Outbless Weekly

Psalm 137 - By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion

February 06, 2023 Michael Metcalf Season 10 Episode 137
Outbless Weekly
Psalm 137 - By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion
Show Notes

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

- Israel had been taken captive by Babylon because of their sins

- Now here they were gathered by the rivers of Bablyon

o Likely the Euphrates which had lots of water

o It would be looking upon abundant waters in the camp of your enemies in regret because you know you are here because of your sin

- They sat and wept when they remembered Zion

o We finally sit and weep over our sin

§ Wept over family who died

§ Wept over the loss of property & possessions

§ Wept over the destruction of the temple

§ Wept over the cruelty of their captors

§ Wept over the pleasant and blessed past

§ Wept over the forced captivity of the present

§ Wept over what seems like a hopeless future

§ Finally wept over their own sin that invited such judgement from God

o This has the tone of repentance in it (a beautiful sound to God)

o They remembered Zion (God’s home, God’s rules, God’s blessings)

o They began to long for God again (implied)

o Whatever moves you to tears to remember God and His ways is a good thing

2 There on the poplars we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

- There on the poplars we hung our harps

o Poplars are willow trees

o They hung their harps on the trees because there was no more joy with them

o But notice they didn’t break them or toss them into the river

§ This implies no song for now but maybe at a later date (some hope left)

- For there our captors demanded songs of joy

o Knowing the sad state of their hearts this would be cruel and unusual punishment

o We took you capture, kills your relatives and made slaves of you, now sing for us

- Sing for us the songs of Zion

o The songs they wanted to hear were songs of joy reserved for Jehovah

o These would be songs from the heart and could never be duplicated under false pretence

4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.

- How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?

o Its not a question but rather a statement

o It’s not possible to sing the songs of the Lord with joy in your heart while in captivity for those who are your captors (they would only sing in their heart for God)

- If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill

o In other words, they would rather forget how to play the harm than to sing songs that belong to God to their captives

o It’s not going to happen.

o Don’t forget the meaning of the name Jerusalem.

§ In awe of peace

§ Teaching peace

§ To be or make whole or complete.

§ The Jews will not forget this meaning nor should we

§ Jerusalem is the center of the earth timepiece.

· Time ticking by preparing for the return of the King!

6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

- My tongue cling to the roof of my mouth

o This means unable to speak or sing

o He would rather not be able to speak or sing

- If I do not remember you,

o This seems to imply a person “you” not a place

o An obvious reference to the Lord

o Jerusalem is all about the Lord coming down from heaven, dying on the cross and being raised again to life to make a way by faith where there was no way

o To remember Jerusalem is to have hope in God’s plan for the future

§ Considering they were by the river crying and weaping, this is significant

7 Remember, LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell.

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