What is the message of Psalm 137
Psalm 137
Psalm 137 is the 137th psalm of the Book of Psalms, and as such it is included in the Hebrew Bible. In English it is generally known as "By the rivers of Babylon", which is how its first words are translated in the King James Version. It is Psalm 136 in the slightly different numbering system of …
Babylonian captivity
The Babylonian captivity or Babylonian exile is the period in Jewish history during which a number of Judahites of the ancient Kingdom of Judah were captives in Babylonia. After the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem, resulting in tribute being paid by King Jehoiakim.
What does Psalm 137 say?
Psalm 137 tells us clearly that David did not write all the Psalms. This Psalm was about the Jews when they were in Babylon during the Captivity which took place some 400 years after David died. Originally Answered: What is an interpretation of Psalm 137? The first 6 verses are a lamination about having lost Jerusalem.
What is the meaning of Psalm 137?
Psalm 137 is a lament, a cry of a conquered, beaten, exiled people to their God. It is not prescriptive, but descriptive of their grief. Surely we can sympathize. Do you not think the Jews in the concentration camps often wished to see such judgment on the Nazis?
What does this mean in Psalm 137?
Psalm 137 – The Mournful Song of the Exiles. Because this psalm is a remembrance of Babylon, many commentators believe it was written after the return from exile. It may also have been written many years into the exile. A. Singing to the self. 1. (1-3) Mourning by Babylon’s rivers. By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept
What is Psalm 137 about?
Psalm 137 is a hymn expressing the yearnings of the Jewish people during their Babylonian exile. In its whole form of nine verses, the psalm reflects the yearning for Jerusalem as well as hatred for the Holy City's enemies with sometimes violent imagery.
What does Psalms 137 teach us?
Complete loyalty to YHWH: In Ps 137, the psalmist has complete loyalty and devotion towards YHWH. The psalmist's love for Jerusalem and Zion is not separate from the love of God. The psalmist's devotion to YHWH is seen when he deems it impossible or unthinkable that he would forget Jerusalem.
In what ways does Psalm 137 combine sadness and anger?
The repetition of emotions increases their force, and the repeated statements of grief and anger in Psalm 137 also heighten those feelings.
Is Psalm 137 a lament psalm?
Mays argues that Psalm 137 resembles a Song of Ascent (see Psalms, 422). this psalm as a lament (with vengeance) rather than a complaint.
Where is may my right hand forget her cunning and may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth from?
That was Frederick Douglass' point as well. He said of his enslaved compatriots, If I do forget, if I do not faithfully remember those bleeding children of sorrow this day, 'may my right hand forget her cunning, and may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth! '
What does songs of Zion mean?
The songs of Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן), i.e., the lyrical hymns which express the longing of the Jewish nation to see the hill of Zion and the city of Jerusalem shine again in all their former glory, date back to the time immediately after the destruction of Solomon's Temple.
What is the meaning of this phrase from Psalm 23?
Psalm 23 reminds us that in life or in death — in times of plenty or want — God is good and worthy of our trust. The psalm uses the metaphor of a shepherd's care for his sheep to describe the wisdom, strength and kindness of our God.
Who is the daughter of Babylon?
Chapter 47 concerns the fall of Babylon, which is personified as a woman, "the virgin daughter of Babylon", "daughter of the Chaldeans", no longer to be called "the Lady of Kingdoms" or "a Lady for ever"....Isaiah 47Order in the Christian part237 more rows
What is the meaning of the song by the rivers of Babylon?
Therefore, "By the rivers of Babylon" refers to living in a repressive society and the longing for freedom, just like the Israelites in captivity.
What Zion means in the Bible?
In the Hebrew Bible, the Land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem are both referred to as Zion. Other religions use the word Zion to mean "utopia" or "holy place."
Why does the author say that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July?
I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July! Mr. Douglass is saying that there are a lot of black people in this nation that are wanting their freedom.
Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty meaning?
Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty? That he is the rightful owner of his own body? You have already declared it. Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery?
Which of the following best summarizes Douglass's judgment of the conduct of this nation in his Fourth of July speech?
Which of the following best summarizes Douglass's judgment of the "conduct of this nation" in his speech? By engaging in slavery, the United States commits a crime, revealing the evil principles on which it was founded.
Why was the Psalm written after the exile?
Because this psalm is a remembrance of Babylon, many commentators believe it was written after the return from exile. It may also have been written many years into the exile.
Who said the Jews leave one part of the house unfinished?
The Puritan commentator John Trapp (1601-1699) observed this about the Jewish people of his time: “The Jews at this day, when they build a house, they are, say the Rabbis, to leave one part of it unfinished and lying rude, in remembrance that Jerusalem and the temple are at present desolate.
What does the Bible say about the destruction of Babylon?
The destruction of Babylon being foreseen as a sure destruction (thou art to be destroyed ), it is spoken of, 1. As a just destruction. She shall be paid in her own coin: "Thou shalt be served as thou hast served us, as barbarously used by the destroyers as we have been by thee,’’ See Rev. 18:6 .
What does the Bible say about joy?
Those that rejoice in God do, for his sake, make Jerusalem their joy, and prefer it before that, whatever it is, which is the head of their joy, which is dearest to them in this world. A godly man will prefer a public good before any private satisfaction or gratification whatsoever.2.
1. The psalmist writes from exile in what today is southern Iraq
The psalmist penned this poem while exiled in Babylonia (today’s southern Iraq). He tells us he and the other captives wept when they remembered Zion.
2. Psalm 137:9 relies on eye-for-eye justice
The Lord through Moses instituted an-eye-for-an-eye justice system where punishment matched the crime ( lex talionis ). Their laws prohibited avengers from punishing a wrongdoer beyond what he or she had done: If he intentionally wounded someone, he would receive an equal wound back.
3. Psalm 137:9 invokes prior prophecy
Psalm 137:8-9 does not ask God for Babylon’s doom, but rather assumes it. Why? Because the true prophets said Babylon would exile the Jews for 70 years, after which God would send the Persians (Medes) against Babylon and the Jews would return home.
What does Psalm 137 mean?
What Psalm 137 means. Verses 1 – 3: The *p salmist is probably home again in Jerusalem or one of the towns near it. He remembered how the people of Babylon made them sad. It made them sad when they asked them to sing. They made music on harps.
Where did the Jews live in Psalm 137?
The Story of Psalm 137. The *Jews lived in Judah. The country of Babylon was 1000 kilometres to the east. In 586 B.C., the soldiers from Babylon destroyed the capital city of Judah, Jerusalem. B.C. means years B efore C hrist came to the earth. They took the people that lived there as *prisoners to Babylon.
What is the meaning of Psalm 137?
Psalm 137 is an imprecatory psalm. An imprecatory psalm is one that seeks God’s judgment and, consequently, pain and destruction on others, such as an enemy. The psalm begins with an expression of sorrow over Zion. Then in verses 3-6, the abuse of the nation of Israel suffered under the Babylonian Empire is remembered. In verse 7, the chorus recites Edom’s chant which urged the Babylonian army to destroy Jerusalem and raze it to the ground. Verse 9 is the passage that some people find offensive. This has occurred due to a wrong translation of the Hebrew text among other reasons. Therefore, what follows is an explanation of the meaning of Psalm 137:9.
What does Psalm 137:9 mean?
What does Psalm 137:9 mean? The Jews desired justice. It is important to realize that the wording of the psalm is from the mouths of the Jews who had suffered the loss of family and children. There are many things stated in Scripture that are evil. It is wrong to conclude that everything that it is recorded in Scripture is approved by God. This psalm records the heart attitude of the suffering Jews. They called for justice by asking that the babies of the Babylonians and Edmoites be seized and dashed against the rocks is incredibly strong. They wanted God to act justly and punish the nations that had murdered their adults and children. The verse is a call for justice. Justice would bring them “happiness” or peace.
What does the Bible say about the recompense with which you have repaid us?
With the recompense with which you have repaid us. How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones. Against the rock. Psalm 137:7-9 (NASB) It is clear from verse 7 that the Israelites had asked God to remember the Edomites who were allied with the Babylonian Empire against Jerusalem.
What is the conclusion of the Psalms?
The rest of the psalm is a reminder of the horrors that happened to to them and to the city. The conclusion of the psalm is verses 7-9, which says, Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom. The day of Jerusalem, Who said, “Raze it , raze it. To its very foundation.”.
What is the chorus in the Bible verse 7?
In verse 7, the chorus recites Edom’s chant which urged the Babylonian army to destroy Jerusalem and raze it to the ground. Verse 9 is the passage that some people find offensive.
Where is Psalm 137 sung?
The opening two verses of Psalm 137 reveal that this song is sung by Jewish captives in the city of Babylon. By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it.
What did the Bible say about killing someone?
To kill someone who has intentionally killed another person is just for God had told Noah in Genesis 9:5-6 that anyone who killed another man, had to die.
