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I’ve been writing about a Psalm on Saturday for a few years, and I’m almost finished writing an Interruption for every Psalm.
Before I began writing on today’s Psalm 137, I noted that previously, I had written about Psalm 135, 136, and 138—while skipping Psalm 137. Why? Let’s consider the following verses . . .
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! (vv. 8-9, ESV)
I bypassed Psalm 137 because I prefer the themes of Psalms that we find in the very next one . . .
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness (Psalm 138:1-2a, ESV).
Yes, thanksgiving and praise uplift my spirit, while I find the images of dashing little ones against rocks disquieting.
So why does the Bible include such a Psalm? Reading progressive critics of the Bible, they, sooner rather than later, point to this “dashing” verse as a challenge of the goodness of God.
Let’s consider the historical context:
The Old Testament Jews lived under a principle known as “talionis,” which means to “pay back in kind.” They believed justice must fit the crime or an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
When the Babylonians toppled Jerusalem, they killed the elderly, abused women, threw babies against walls, and carried everyone else away as slaves. The captives were brought to Babylon, where they were mocked . . .
For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” (Psalm 137:3).
Temple Psalms were of God’s power, faithfulness, and victory. Imagine the Israelites performing these Psalms to guards who gleefully laughed while the Psalms were sung, saying, “Where was your God when we sacked Jerusalem?”
Some commentators say that the difficult passages of Psalm 137 are figurative. This is a possibility, but we should also realize that the Persians defeated the Babylonians, who mocked the Jews, within twenty years of the Jews’ return to Jerusalem.
Jesus changed everything:
The word “blessed” in Psalms 137:8 does not mean “happy,” as translated in the New Living Translation, but “morally justified.” But Jesus overturned this type of justice in the Sermon on the Mount . . .
You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matthew 5:38-39).
The Bible always reflects accurately what happened. Though its pages record troublesome events, sinful actions, and even Psalm 137 (that seeks justice according to the time of that culture), the Bible also points to Jesus.
Forgiveness, redemption, and righteous judgment can only be found in our Messiah.
Amen. Peace out!