What is the message of Psalm 137?

Psalm 137 is one of the most poignant and emotionally charged passages in the Book of Psalms. It captures the heart-wrenching sorrow and profound longing of the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. This psalm is unique in its raw expression of grief, anger, and hope. As we delve into its message, we uncover layers of historical context, theological significance, and emotional depth that resonate with the human experience of suffering and the quest for justice.

The psalm begins with a vivid image of the exiles by the rivers of Babylon, weeping as they remember Zion:

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion!'" (Psalm 137:1-3, ESV)

This opening scene sets the tone for the entire psalm. The rivers of Babylon symbolize a place of displacement and sorrow, far from the beloved city of Jerusalem. The exiles' act of hanging their lyres on the willows signifies their inability to sing joyful songs in a foreign land. Their captors' demand for songs of Zion adds insult to injury, mocking their faith and their homeland. This moment encapsulates the deep pain of being torn from one's roots and the struggle to maintain identity and hope in the midst of suffering.

The psalmist's response to this demand is a poignant declaration of loyalty to Jerusalem:

"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! Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!" (Psalm 137:4-6, ESV)

Here, the psalmist grapples with the tension between the desire to honor God and the impossibility of genuine worship in a place of exile. The vow to never forget Jerusalem underscores the centrality of the city in the Israelites' faith and identity. Jerusalem is not just a physical location but a symbol of God's presence and promises. The psalmist's passionate commitment to remember and prioritize Jerusalem above all else reflects a deep yearning for restoration and a refusal to let go of hope.

As the psalm progresses, the tone shifts from sorrow to a cry for justice:

"Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, 'Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!' O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!" (Psalm 137:7-9, ESV)

These verses are among the most controversial and difficult in the entire Bible. The call for divine retribution against the Edomites and Babylonians reflects the intense anguish and desire for justice felt by the exiles. The Edomites, who are accused of cheering on the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Babylonians, who carried out the exile, are seen as embodying the forces of evil and oppression. The harsh imagery of infants being dashed against the rocks shocks modern sensibilities, but it must be understood within the context of ancient Near Eastern expressions of justice and retribution.

Theologically, this cry for vengeance can be seen as an appeal to God's justice. The psalmist is not taking personal revenge but is calling on God to act as the righteous judge. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). The raw honesty of the psalmist's emotions serves as a reminder that God invites His people to bring their deepest pains and desires for justice before Him, trusting in His ultimate sovereignty and righteousness.

Psalm 137 also carries a prophetic dimension. The psalmist's lament and cry for justice foreshadow the eventual downfall of Babylon, which is later prophesied by Isaiah and Jeremiah (Isaiah 13:19-22; Jeremiah 51:24-26). The psalm thus holds out a hope that God will not abandon His people in their suffering but will act decisively to bring about justice and restoration.

In reflecting on the message of Psalm 137, it is essential to consider its place within the broader canon of Scripture. The psalm's raw emotions and harsh imagery find a counterbalance in the teachings of Jesus, who calls His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). This tension between the Old Testament cries for justice and the New Testament call to forgiveness and love invites believers to wrestle with the complexities of human emotion and divine justice.

Moreover, Psalm 137 speaks to the contemporary experience of suffering and displacement. In a world where many people face exile, persecution, and injustice, this psalm offers a voice to the voiceless and a reminder that God sees and cares about their plight. It encourages believers to hold on to hope and to seek God's justice while also striving to embody Christ's love and forgiveness in their interactions with others.

Christian literature has often grappled with the themes of Psalm 137. In "The City of God," Augustine reflects on the dual citizenship of Christians, who live in the earthly city while longing for the heavenly city. He sees the psalm as an expression of the tension between the present suffering and the future hope. Similarly, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his "Letters and Papers from Prison," resonates with the psalmist's experience of longing and displacement, finding solace in the hope of God's ultimate justice and restoration.

In conclusion, Psalm 137 is a profound expression of the human experience of suffering, longing, and the quest for justice. Its vivid imagery and raw emotions capture the heartache of the Israelites in exile and their unwavering hope in God's faithfulness. As believers today, we can draw strength from this psalm, knowing that God invites us to bring our deepest pains and desires before Him, trusting in His ultimate justice and love.