Bible Studies
Psalm 137 - Remembering Better Times
Key Verses: (NRSV)
- 1: "By the rivers of Babylon - there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion." - Jerusalem has been destroyed and those Israelites that were not killed have been taken captive and forced to walk hundreds of miles in a death march towards Babylon.
- 4: "How could we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?" - Their captors had derided them into singing the praise songs that had once brought them so much joy. With a broken heart the psalmist asks how one could possibly sing in the midst of so much sorrow.
- 6: "Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy." - Remembering the good times, remembering God's blessings, is the key to getting through the difficult times.
- 8: "O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us!" - The desire for revenge churns in the heart of the psalmist.
- Have you ever found yourself far from where you wanted to be?
Promise of the Gospel:
It is doubtful that Psalm 137 is on anyone's top-ten list of favorite psalms. Its pain is revealing and its language is coarse. It is filled with raw emotions and revenge. Who would be happy at the idea of dashing little ones against a rock? However, this psalm does serve an important purpose. Life is not always a rose garden. We do not always feel like singing. There are times when hate and revenge are the only emotions we can find that make sense. Despair, pain, and agony are real emotions that we all encounter. When we find ourselves in the pit of sorrow and hopelessness, thoughts of joy and happiness feel as foreign and far off as the most remote country in the world. It seems and feels that there is no road back. Our memories, though filled with love, seem distant and surreal. When this type of darkness threatens our lives, there is only one place to turn for relief - God. When we do, the psalmist shows us that it is okay to turn to God and let loose with everything we feel. We can tell Him of our pain. We can show Him our anger. We can be frustrated and vengeful. The promise this psalm reveals is that the more we call out to God and seek His answers, the closer we will come to His love. In all things no matter how painful, sing to God.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1101 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Gary Sims or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1101 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.
Both have strengthened my faith and given me courage to keep the faith.