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. Psalm 137 was written to express the pain of the Jews who were exiled in Babylon. 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). 50:2 Op. 3 Praise the L ord, for x the L ord is good; sing to his name, y for it is pleasant! Psalms 119:137-144. You rightly instruct us in how to live ever faithful to you. i. 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. If I do not exalt Jerusalem 135 u Praise the L ord! Click on the different category headings to find out more. I’m too young to be important, but I don’t forget what you tell me. How Shall We Sing the Lord ’s Song? Schuyler Rhodes. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. How shall we sing the LORD’s song Though their conquerors wanted them to sing for their own amusement, the song simply wasn’t there. Listening to any one of these studies will enlighten you to the truth of EXACTLY what happens when a person is born again. 137. 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. Is it still possible for the Christian Church to sing this Psalm? “Many singers were carried captives: Ezra 2:41. Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom. Recommended Reading includes: The Psalms as Christian Lament, James Houston, Bruce Waltke; The Psalms as Christian Worship: An Historical Commentary, James Houston, Bruce Waltke a. 2 Wij hebben onze harpen gehangen aan de wilgen, die daarin zijn. 14:1 Gelukkig hij die jouw kinderen grijpt en op de rotsen verplettert. Five sources are cited in the bibliography. Psalm 137." ).” (Kidner). If he failed to remember, then his tongue would lose its ability to sing. Psalm 119 - Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible . PURPOSE: The book of Psalms was known as the hymn book of Israel. .May" These are both Qal imperfects used in a jussive sense. Psalm 137: Continuing one of the more graphic imprecatory prayers, this psalm was written during the Babylonian captivity, or perhaps shortly afterward. PSALM 137. 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. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. But neither let them, when they confess to You, when they praise You, desire earthly things of You. There on the poplarswe hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs,our tormentors demanded songs of joy;they 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). 1. It is interesting that the psalmist did not make this a prayer to God as he did regarding Edom in the previous verse. Words in brackets, ( ), are not in the *Hebrew Bible. It is a poem. PSALM 137 word first as mirth and then as joy. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. 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. 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. Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth— i. Andrews University. "Let us be honest about the pain of oppression and ask if we are the oppressed, the oppressor, or both at the same time." View Essay - Psalms 137.docx from NBST 610 at Liberty University. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. i. Psalm 137- 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Gelukkig hij die wraak zal nemen en jou doet wat jij ons hebt gedaan. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? iv. NRSV By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. Whole Psalm. In a foreign land? “The godly could not forget Jerusalem and everything it stands for: covenant, temple, presence and kingship of God, atonement, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Whenever I debate someone about Bible literal-ism they usually mention Psalm 137:9 KJV. Instead, they enjoyed Jerusalem’s agony and wanted the city to be completely destroyed. (Attributing a work to someone was not deceptive in that day, it was common practice.) Psalm 137 zou dan wijzen op zo’n sabbatsdag. Psalm 119 - Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible . “The English words are sad, even mournful, but the words have an even sadder sound in the Hebrew language. Or modify cookies from other domains God as he did forget, then his tongue lose... Nemen en jou doet wat jij ons hebt gedaan Testament Readings: Psalm 137 – the Mournful of! 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