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Day 340

Psalm 137:1 "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion."

Day 340 – Psalm 137

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.” Psalm 137:1

A PAINFUL PSALM

Psalm 137 was one of the few psalms written by an unknown psalmist who lived in exile with many others in Babylon. There they were taunted and scorned by their enemies. Psalm 137 has strong imprecatory elements.

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down,

Yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.
For there those who carried us away captive
asked of us a song,
And those who plundered us requested mirth, saying,
‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’
How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!
If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling
to the roof of my mouth-
If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.”
Psalm 137:1-6

1. Weeping in Babylon

a) Memories of Zion (Jerusalem) brought copious tears.
b) Dwelling in exile heightened a great love for the motherland.

2. Taunting

a) From the captors.
b) From the plunderers.
c) They “requested” a song to be sung for them, inflicting further pain and insult.

3. Response

a) Refusal to entertain people with the sacred songs sung to the Lord.
b) Determination never to forget Jerusalem.
c) Further determination to exalt Jerusalem above the chief joys of life.
d) The psalmist pronounces a curse upon himself if he ever fails to remember Jerusalem.