Is not disobedience at the root of your songlessness? i. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Maré : Psalm 137 OTE 23/1 (2010), 116-128 119 The psalm not only relates the story of a specific period in Israel’s history, but it was probably utilised in the cult as an observance of lament by the exiles. Yet there was no song left in them; their harps had been hung in the trees. Psalm 137. Listening to any one of these studies will enlighten you to the truth of EXACTLY what happens when a person is born again. c. We hung our harps upon the willows: The singer used poetic liberty to present a striking scene. NRSV By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. “They sought to be amused by these people of a strange religion, and the request was in itself an insult of their faith. Psalm 137:5-6 is a self curse used for literary intensity! Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. BiblicalTraining.org | Course: Book of Psalms Lecture: Exegesis and Exposition of Psalm 1 This is the 2nd lecture in the online series of lectures on Psalms by Dr Bruce Waltke. Psalm 137. 8 Babel hoeft niet alleen te staan voor de stad Babel maar kan ook slaan op het landschap dat de stad Babel toebehoort (zie, kanttekening van de Statenvertaling). Instead, they enjoyed Jerusalem’s agony and wanted the city to be completely destroyed. In addition, Acts 4:25 attributes Psalm 2 to David––and Hebrews 4:7 attributes Psalm 95 to God never did, and never can do wrong to any. The notes explain some of the words with a *star by them. 18:6 Babel, weldra word je verwoest. 9 137:9 Hos. In this case, the call to remember was a call to oppose and to judge. However, the bloodthirsty hatred found within this petition, invoking the wrath of God, and hurling curses towards one’s enemies is what imprecatory psalms are commonly known for. View Psalm . Gelukkig hij die wraak zal nemen en jou doet wat jij ons hebt gedaan. Five sources are cited in the bibliography. Those that rejoice in God, for his sake make Jerusalem their joy. i. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. The small book of Obadiah is a prophetic pronouncement against the Edomites for their part in the conquest of Judea. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? They should have supported and sympathized with Jerusalem when the Babylonians came against it. O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served us, Happy the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock, © Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . Dissertations Graduate Research 2016. Instead they hung them on the poplars, presumably saving them for what would surely be a better day.” (Boice). Psalm 137. “The word ‘foundations’…implies more than the actual foundations of the walls of Jerusalem, as it also pertains to the God-established order in creation, in his rule, and in his election of a people to himself (cf. “Perhaps, if some of their modern critics had been under the yoke from which this psalmist has been delivered, they would have understood a little better how a good man of that age could rejoice that Babylon was fallen and all its race extirpated.” (Maclaren), iii. 3 For there our captors. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Referring to Psalm 137, Walter Bruegge- a. You pass through the old routine, but without the exhilaration of former days. “The English words are sad, even mournful, but the words have an even sadder sound in the Hebrew language. Psalm 137. "Let us be honest about the pain of oppression and ask if we are the oppressed, the oppressor, or both at the same time." PSALM 137 OVERVIEW.. You rightly instruct us in how to live ever faithful to you. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. (The above are Psalm 23:1, Psalm 8:2 and Psalm 137:1 as translated in the King James Version.) Let all the kings of the earth confess to You, O Lord Psalm 137:4. a. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. i. ii. Individual psalms, as well as selected verses from psalms, are featured in the “Verses of Song” (Pesukei D’Zimra) that precede the daily morning service . At least, they use to leave about a yard square of the house unplastered, on which they write, in great letters, this of the psalmist, ‘If I forget Jerusalem,’ etc., or else these words, Zecher leehorban, that is, The memory of the desolation (Leo Modena of the Rites of the Jews).”, Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom The promises are faithfully performed by Him that made them. The Edomites were hoping for the destruction of the ‘foundations’ of Yahweh’s rule on earth.” (VanGemeren), ii. Psalm 137-9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. Large willow trees grew on the shores of the great river, and because there were no songs left in these captives, they hung their harps on those willow trees. Psalm 137 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and weptwhen we remembered Zion. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Schuyler Rhodes. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. It may also have been written many years into the exile. They asked for one of the famous songs of Zion. d. Sing us one of the songs of Zion: This was the cruel demand of those who carried us away captive. Psalm 73-Smith, Terry L. "A Crisis in Faith: An Exegesis of Psalm 73," Restoration Quarterly 17.3 (1974) 162-184. If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept 4. In a foreign land? By David. Happy the one who repays you as you have served us: This is a blessing on the one who brings judgment against the Babylonians, and a judgment corresponding to what the Babylonians served unto Jerusalem and Judea. View Essay - Psalms 137.docx from NBST 610 at Liberty University. b. Raze it, raze it, to its very foundation: The Edomites were a sister-nation to Israel, having descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob (Israel). If I forget you, O Jerusalem: The singer vowed that he would never forget God’s holy city, and even gave a curse upon himself if he did. HINT: Since there are such a large number of resources on this page (>10,000 links) you might consider beginning with the more recent commentaries that briefly discuss all 150 Psalms - Paul Apple (750 pages), Thomas Constable, David Guzik, Bob Utley.For more devotional thoughts consider Spurgeon's The Treasury of … In these psalms, the author (usually David, although not in Ps. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Perhaps he regarded the judgment of Babylon to be so certain that it didn’t need his prayer, only his pronouncement, especially in light of other prophecies. Your little ones against the rock! We may request cookies to be set on your device. Whole Psalm. “Yet, there was a song in the silence, not heard of the cruel oppressors, but heard of Jehovah Himself. A SONG FROM THE CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON. The joy of your religious life has vanished. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Recommended Reading includes: The Psalms as Christian Lament, James Houston, Bruce Waltke; The Psalms as Christian Worship: An Historical Commentary, James Houston, Bruce Waltke Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Psalm 138 EXEGESIS: SUPERSCRIPTION. Psalm 137:5-6 is a self curse used for literary intensity! Psalm 137:8-9. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Psalm 137. “So, like tipsy revellers, they called out ‘Sing!’ The request drove the iron deeper into sad hearts, for it came from those who had made the misery. If I do not exalt Jerusalem If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. So shall it be, and so it is, and that daily; and it is shown that it was not said in vain, save that it was future. 1. A chapter by chapter and verse by verse study of Psalms taught by Pastor Paul LeBoutillier of Calvary Chapel Ontario, Oregon. Verses 1-3, which lead up to and explain the pathetic question of verse 4, repeat nine times the pronoun ending nu (meaning ‘we’ or ‘our’), which sounds mournful. PSALM 137 word first as mirth and then as joy. It’s not the kind of psalm that lends itself to easy preaching. The penman of this Psalm is uncertain; the occasion of it was unquestionably the consideration of the Babylonish captivity; and it seems to have been composed either during the time of that captivity, or presently after their deliverance out of it. 137. Introduction When examining the scriptural text of Psalm 137 it is one that has a unique context and structure. The genre of lament especially helps to resolve problems that arose in the exegesis of the psalm. Hans- Joachim Kraus further asserts that Psalm 137 was the only psalm that could be reliably dated to the exile. you to use each psalm as a personal prayer, praise, or petition to God. Psalm 137 is the 137th psalm of the Book of Psalms, and as such it is included in the Hebrew Bible. Where needed, I include verses that the lectionary skipped. Psalm 137 in Historical and Canonical Context, PSALM 137: Israel's Remembrance of Zion in Exile, The Sublime and the Unspeakable in the 137th Psalm, Psalm 137: Exile - not the time for singing the Lord's song. Meyer took the idea of not being able to sing and used it as an admonishment for Christians: “You have ceased singing lately. The first is, an heavy complaint of the church, unto Ps 137:7. Verses from Psalms 34 and 99 accompany the procession for taking t… O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, My thesis is that Psalm 2 was written in the context and manner of the Ancient Near Eastern culture, for use at the enthronement of a Davidic King, to reinforce the message of the supreme power of Yahweh, Israel’s god, and therefore of his designated What a wonderful mixture is the Psalm of soft melancholy and fiery patriotism! Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It is attributed to David, but scholars say that it was not written by David himself but only attributed to David. You can also change some of your preferences. Psalm 77- … Five sources are cited in the bibliography. It is interesting that the psalmist did not make this a prayer to God as he did regarding Edom in the previous verse. i. 14:21-29 die de Rietzee spleet, in tweeën – eeuwig duurt zijn trouw – 14 en Israël overbracht, daar midden doorheen – eeuwig duurt zijn trouw – 15 en de farao met zijn leger achterliet, in de Rietzee – eeuwig duurt zijn trouw – 16 die zijn volk leidde, in de woestijn – eeuwig duurt zijn trouw – How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? They stedfastly resolved to keep up this affection. These would of course take their instruments with them.” (Horne), ii. The Old Testament Readings: Psalm 137, Pentecost 19C. Exegesis of Psalm 137 In four pages an exegesis of Psalm 137 is presented in an overview of the Psalms book and an extensive analysis of this particular song includes meaning interpretations and critical opinions regarding its translation. Above my chief joy. "my right hand forget her skill" Notice that the words "her skill" are italicized in the NASB, which means that they are not in the MT. Look them up if you are interested, it helps you memorize a portion of the Psalm. Ex. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. Academia.edu uses cookies to personalize content, tailor ads and improve the user experience. ... 20 – Commentary / Exegesis 4 – Pastor's Devotions and more... Christ the King. When suffering, we should recollect with godly sorrow our … Psalm 24:2; 78:69; 89:11; 104:5). They vowed never to forget God’s promises and to persevere, waiting for the moment of redemption.” (VanGemeren), ii. The sad complaint of the Jews in captivity, Psalms 137:1-3. required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, .May" These are both Qal imperfects used in a jussive sense. Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom. To have done so would have been to play traitor to their own lost city, and to all that their citizenship stood for.” (Morgan), ii. You can check these in your browser security settings. They wept over their sin that invited such judgment from God. "my right hand forget her skill" Notice that the words "her skill" are italicized in the NASB, which means that they are not in the MT. b. (Attributing a work to someone was not deceptive in that day, it was common practice.) Psalm 137 zou dan wijzen op zo’n sabbatsdag. The psalms attribute a total of 73 psalms to David (3-9; 11-41, 51-65, 68-70; 86; 101; 103; 108-110; 122; 124; 131; 133; 138-145). Verse 1. Happy the one who takes and dashes By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. Is it still possible for the Christian Church to sing this Psalm? c. Happy the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock: This awful blessing is understood in light of the previous line. An EasyEnglish Translation with Notes (about 1200 word vocabulary) on Psalm 137. www.easyenglish.bible. "May. If it were not inspired it would nevertheless occupy a high place in poesy, especially the former portion of it, which is tender and patriotic to the highest degree. For what shall the kings of the earth desire? Praise the name of the L ord, give praise, O v servants of the L ord, 2 who n stand in the house of the L ord, in w the courts of the house of our God! v. “Today the fortresses of ancient Edom are a desolate waste, and the site of ancient Babylon is a ruin. . Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. On the subject of imprecations (see the note on Psalm 109). Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth— You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Psalms Psalm 137 Summary. This plaintive ode is one of the most charming compositions in the whole Book of Psalms for its poetic power. “It is horrible for neighbours to be enemies, worse for them to show their enmity in times of great affliction, worst of all for neighbours to egg others on to malicious deeds.” (Spurgeon). God never did, and never can do wrong to any. 1 Aan de rivieren van Babel, daar zaten wij, ook weenden wij, als wij gedachten aan Sion. 135 u Praise the L ord! 1 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. "Psalm 67: Blessing, Harvest and History: A Proposal for Exegetical Methodology," Calvin Theological Journal 36 (2001) 290-313. Words in brackets, ( ), are not in the *Hebrew Bible. Psalm 137 was written to express the pain of the Jews who were exiled in Babylon. 50:2 Op. “The godly could not forget Jerusalem and everything it stands for: covenant, temple, presence and kingship of God, atonement, forgiveness, and reconciliation. i. Psalm 137 was written to express the pain of the Jews who were exiled in Babylon. Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. . By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplarswe hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs,our tormentors demanded songs of joy;they LIBERTY UNIVERITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Exegesis of Psalm 137 Submitted to Dr. Rene Lopez In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of NBST 610 Hermeneutics By Henry W. Taylor II. The Historical Superscriptions of Davidic Psalms: An Exegetical, Intertextual, and Methodological No doubt the singer had seen this done to the little ones of Jerusalem, and the horrible image was seared upon his mind. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. Not Psalm 137. i. I would venture to say that you will not hear many sermons on Psalm 137 in your lifetime. Because this psalm is a remembrance of Babylon, many commentators believe it was written after the return from exile. Psalm 137 is a work of poetry. One of the most difficult passages in the Bible is Psalms 137:7-9, one that displays the white-hot anger of … 7 Zie, Abraham Trommius, Concordantie deel 3, Zwijndrecht, 1988, blz 995- 997. If he did forget, then his right hand could lose its skill to play the harp. PSALM 137 OVERVIEW.. I’m too young to be important, but I don’t forget what you tell me. Brevard S. Childs states that, although specifying the composition of a psalm to a definite chronological time frame is rare, in Psalm 137, we have an exception. And you never will be able to resume that song until you have put away the evil of your doing, and have returned from the land of the enemy.”. If he had said: This is just my life now, I might as well get on with it. Resources » Commentaries » Psalm » Chapter 119 » exegesis. This Psalm is composed of two parts. Psalm 137- 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. But neither let them, when they confess to You, when they praise You, desire earthly things of You. PSALM 137. “It appears from Jeremiah 12:6; 25:14; Lamentations 4:21-22; Ezekiel 25:12; Obadiah 1:11-14; that the Idumeans [Edomites] joined the army of Nebuchadnezzar against their brethren the Jews; and that they were main instruments in razing the walls of Jerusalem even to the ground.” (Clarke). Nonetheless, as Psalm 137 stands within the psalter, a canonical book that possess Christian authority, it necessarily must be recognized as a legitimate Christian scripture that is appropriate for use within Christian worship. But writing the commentary for this passage was a challenge due to the length of So let’s actually break this psalm down and workout WHAT is being said and very importantly WHO is saying it and also WHY they said what they said. Psalm 137:8-9. It is a poem. ... 24 – Commentary / Exegesis 4 – Pastor's Devotions and more... Thanksgiving. In terms of theme, Psalm 137 hinges on the idea of “remembrance”, and it is the psalmist’s pledge to remember Jerusalem, and by relation the God whom inhabited the city, that gives the psalmist leverage to petition that this very God remember the psalmist, the exilic community, and most explicitly those who have cast them into exile. Psalm 137 – The Mournful Song of the Exiles. If he failed to remember, then his tongue would lose its ability to sing. Verse 1. Psalm 119 - Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible . (Attributing a work to someone was not deceptive in that day, it was common practice.) Your promise has been tested through and through, and I, your servant, love it dearly. God cannot be mocked.” (Boice), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. “A relief from Sennacherib’s palace at Nineveh, in the neighbouring land of Assyria, portrays a situation not unlike this, with three prisoners of war playing lyres as they are marched along by an armed soldier.” (Kidner), iii. [ad_1] Exegesis Research Paper Part 1 (Psalm 1:1-6) Submitted to Dr. James Wood, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of RTCH 500-B25 Research, Writing, and Ministry Preparation by Carlos R. Miller 09/12/2018 Introduction Psalm 1, as its name implies its position within the book of Psalms, in many ways serves as an […] The body of Christ today does not understand the salvation process. Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress (Obadiah 1:12). View Psalm . The songs of God’s people were more than performances; they came from their relationship with God. Psalm 67 - Bosma, C. J. and Eep Talstra. By using our site, you agree to our collection of information through the use of cookies. The other is an heavy imprecation and a prophetical denunciation against the enemies of the church, unto the end of the Psalm. (1-3) Mourning by Babylon’s rivers. Commentary, Psalm 137, Brad R. Braxton, The African American Lectionary, 200 8. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. 2. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. For example: 1. For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" Can you not tell the reason? On the willows there we hung up our harps. It was not mere secular “mirth” khat was requested in ver, 3; but, as the parallelism shows, the sacred gladness audible in the songs of Zion, which were at the same time the sowgs of Jehovah. .May" These are both Qal imperfects used in a jussive sense. Schuyler Rhodes. Psalm 137." Psalm 137. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. They had led away the captives, and now they bid them make sport.” (Maclaren), ii. You don't have to be in the dark any longer. BACK; NEXT ; Verses 1-6. We sympathize with the impulse of the psalmist, yet the New Testament calls us to a higher standard: “Our response should be to recognize that our calling, since the cross, is to pray down reconciliation, not judgment” (Boice). Many psalms are employed in Jewish liturgy. 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. 1. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. He prayed that the Babylonians would get as they had given. LIBERTY UNIVERITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Exegesis of Psalm 137 Submitted to Dr. Rene Lopez In … Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom: The psalmist directed his words to God, asking Him to remember the people of Edom (to the south east of Israel) for their conduct during the conquest of Jerusalem. This short psalm is a communal lament, pleading as a nation for God's mercy, though in what particular circumstances we cannot tell. “There is ample evidence that ‘to dash in pieces their little ones’ was a common enough sequel to a heathen victory, and that Babylon had been in no mood for restraint at the fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:7; Lamentations 5:11f. ii. It reflects the sorrows and thoughts of one of the captives, either during the captivity itself, or shortly afterward when the memories of the terrible experience were still fresh in the psalmist's mind. Gordon Churchyard. i. 3 Praise the L ord, for x the L ord is good; sing to his name, y for it is pleasant! Andrews University. Whole Psalm. Psalms 119:137-144. Psalm 137 is a work of poetry. --Robert Rollock. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? And it’s no wonder. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Psalm 137 Exegesis March 26, 2018 Psalm 137 is one of my favorite Psalms despite how dark it is. Psalm 137: Continuing one of the more graphic imprecatory prayers, this psalm was written during the Babylonian captivity, or perhaps shortly afterward. 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. It contains a cry in captivity (verses 1-4), a vow of remembrance (verses 5-6), and a prayer for judgment (verses 7-9). Every sensitive mind instinctively feels that, second only to the joy of regained Temple worship, would be, to the psalmist, khe crowning joy PSALM 137. Singing to the self. Psalms 119:137-144. It is like crying ‘ohhh’ or ‘woe’ repeatedly.” (Boice). The day of Jerusalem, Browse Sermons on Psalm 137. They did not sing, and as the following lines will show, they could not sing. Find Top Church Sermons, Illustrations, and Preaching Slides on Psalm 137. F.B. 3. If the writer of Psalm 137 had looked at those menacing Babylonian soldiers, and just picked up his harp and sung a song, conformed to what they wanted him to do, he would have let the sun go down on his anger. PURPOSE: The book of Psalms was known as the hymn book of Israel. A. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Psalm 119 EXEGESIS: INTRODUCTION: My usual practice when writing the commentary for a Biblical passage is to treat each verse or phrase individually––albeit with an introduction to help the reader appreciate the context. Commentary on Psalm 137:5-9 (Read Psalm 137:5-9) What we love, we love to think of. The penman of this Psalm is uncertain; the occasion of it was unquestionably the consideration of the Babylonish captivity; and it seems to have been composed either during the time of that captivity, or presently after their deliverance out of it. Wij zaten neer, wij weenden langs de zomen Van Babylons wijd uitgebreide stromen; Elk stortte daar zijn bitt're jammerklacht, Als hij met smart aan 't heilig Sion dacht; Elk, wars van vreugd en vrolijke gezangen, Liet daar zijn harp aan somb're wilgen hangen. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. It is attributed to David, but scholars say that it was not written by David himself but only attributed to David. "May. Happy the one who repays you as you have served us! 14:1 Gelukkig hij die jouw kinderen grijpt en op de rotsen verplettert. How Shall We Sing the Lord ’s Song? It would take a long time to sing those songs in a foreign land. Psalms 113-118 make up the Hallel, which is recited on various holidays. The sad complaint of the Jews in captivity, Psalms 137:1-3. iv. To learn more, view our, How Shall We Sing? b. “The arabim or willows were very plentiful in Babylon. If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. i. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. It is the prayer and praise book of the Bible. This plaintive ode is one of the most charming compositions in the whole Book of Psalms for its poetic power. The Old Testament Readings: Psalm 137, Pentecost 19C. The psalmist also may have known of Isaiah’s prophecy that announced that just this would happen: Their children also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes (Isaiah 13:16). Resources » Commentaries » Psalm » Chapter 119 » exegesis. Words in boxes are from the Bible. i. PSALM 137. "Let us be honest about the pain of oppression and ask if we are the oppressed, the oppressor, or both at the same time." Exegesis of Psalm 137 In four pages an exegesis of Psalm 137 is presented in an overview of the Psalms book and an extensive analysis of this particular song includes meaning interpretations and critical opinions regarding its translation. Though their conquerors wanted them to sing for their own amusement, the song simply wasn’t there. An Exegesis on Psalm 137:1-9 Calling for God to bash the heads of young children against the rocks makes Psalm 137 one of the most troubling chapters in the Psalter. 2 Wij hebben onze harpen gehangen aan de wilgen, die daarin zijn. You have allowed some little rift to come within the lute of your life, which has been slowly widening, and now threatens to silence all. You are right and you do right, GOD; your decisions are right on target. The psalms of lament are nothing if not intense. For once, there is no need for guessing about the occasion of this Psalm. It is not because your circumstances are depressed, though they may be; for Paul and Silas sang praises to God in their prison. Ps 137:1-4 137 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 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 the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate versions of the Bible. PSALMS RESOURCES Commentaries, Sermons, Illustrations, Devotionals. It is a poem. 16 – Sermons 80+ – Illustrations / Stories 16 – Children's Sermons / Resources “Let those find fault with it who have never seen their temple burned, their city ruined, their wives ravished, and their children slain; they might not, perhaps, be quite so velvet-mouthed if they had suffered after this fashion.” (Spurgeon). It was impossible, and they refused to sing the song of Jehovah. Psalm 119 - Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible . But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. A Journey Through the Psalms: Reflections for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times. “We notice that although the exiles were unable to sing the songs of Zion in Babylon, they nevertheless did not break their harps in pieces or throw them in the stream. THE ARGUMENT. The great quantity of them that were on the banks of the Euphrates caused Isaiah, Isaiah 15:7, to call it the brook or river of willows.” (Clarke), iii. Seven psalms form the core of the Kabbalat Shabbat(Friday night) service. Who said, “Raze it, raze it, Whenever I debate someone about Bible literal-ism they usually mention Psalm 137:9 KJV.