Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
O LORD, remember what the Edomites did
on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem.
“Destroy it!” they yelled.
“Level it to the ground!”
O Babylon, you will be destroyed.
Happy is the one who pays you back
for what you have done to us.
(Psalm 137:7-8 NLT)
Observation
I’ll be honest: Today’s reading would be easier were it not for the presence of Psalm 137. Indeed, I’d rather pretend this psalm wasn’t even in the Bible. That’s not unheard of for me—there are certainly other passages in the Bible that are hard on the senses and difficult to understand or apply. Still, if you’re reading through the Scriptures, you’ve read it, so let’s make an attempt at understanding it.
Psalm 137 is an imprecatory psalm. Imprecatory psalms are those psalms that contain curses or prayers for the punishment of the psalmist's enemies. To imprecate means to invoke evil upon, or to curse. (Other imprecatory psalms include Psalms 7, 35, 58, 59, 69, 79, 109 and 139.)
That’s certainly what’s going on here. There's some serious imprecatin' going on! The people of God, deported to Babylon, are being mocked by their conquerors: “Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!” (137:3). The psalmist’s pain is obvious—“How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a pagan land?” (137:4) The psalmist’s loyalty is clear—“May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth…if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy” (137:6). And the psalmist’s anger is apparent—
O Babylon, you will be destroyed.
Happy is the one who pays you back
for what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who takes your babies
and smashes them against the rocks!
(Psalm 137:8-9 NLT)
What do you make of an imprecatory psalm in light of Jesus’ more passive teachings of forgiveness and prayer for those who’ve wronged us? How do you reconcile Psalm 137 with Jesus’ challenge to “turn the other cheek”? I have three suggestions. Please note, none are original with me—many wise believers have suggested these perspectives:
First, understand that these are not personal vendettas but rather spring from a zeal for the justice of God and the glory of His Name. Know that (for example) in this case, the Babylonians were a particularly cruel enemy and acted in unnecessarily brutal ways towards her captives—unjust ways. Though too strongly stated for our sensitive constitutions, what’s here is a call for God to act justly.
Second, the victory of the Babylonian army was seen by the world (Judah included) as a victory for Babylon’s gods. This call, then, is for the great God of the Israelites—Jehovah—to be vindicated in future victory over Babylon.
Third, it’s significant that the carrying out of justice—however strong—is left in God’s hands…that the psalmist—though calling for the destruction of Babylon—left the time, place, and means up to God.
In that sense, then, though the language is painfully strong, the psalm calls for nothing more than anyone who seeks justice and the glory of God would call for—that He should be seen for who He is and vindicated in His greatness (in spite of the failures of His people), and that justice should be accomplished throughout the earth. Can you live with that? Honestly, who doesn't want that?
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For a more detailed look at imprecatory psalms, check out the second entry down and beyond in the following blog--one I simply ran across at random, but one I think I like:
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