29-Apr-2011. 2:10, and Neh. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. Preaching. This Psalm contains within it reflections, desires for retaliation, expressions of contrition and lamentation, and the aspirations for the people to be reconciled with God and their homeland. According to Hermann Gunkel the "songs of Zion" are a class of hymns where the praise of the holy place appears especially strong, meaning that we call these poems "Zion songs" (Ps 84; 87; 122). This can be further validated by verses five and six. “Yet, there was a song in the silence, not heard of the cruel oppressors, but heard of Jehovah Himself. Instead they hung them on the poplars, presumably saving them for what would surely be a better day.” (Boice). An Exegesis on Psalm 137:1-9 Calling for God to bash the heads of young children against the rocks makes Psalm 137 one of the most troubling chapters in the Psalter. Verse 1. l35, l36, 137, l46-l50 TO WHOM: The book of Psalms was written to Israel--but the book has been used for devotion, prayer, and praise by believers down through the centuries. Their question: “How could we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land, is a refusal to sing and not a request as to how they should be sung. The theology can be applied to the modern context in many ways that have only begun to be named in this analysis. a. Carlos R. Miller. It is not because your circumstances are depressed, though they may be; for Paul and Silas sang praises to God in their prison. Commentary on Psalm 137:5-9 (Read Psalm 137:5-9) What we love, we love to think of. share | improve this question | follow | edited Jan 19 '15 at 0:39. curiousdannii ♦ 15.6k 9 9 gold badges 45 45 silver badges 97 97 bronze badges. Exegesis of the Psalms Separate them by types. It is a clear and judicious explanation of the text, and cannot be dispensed with. The last and final movement is somewhat of an imprecation against Edom and Babylon. 137) invokes God to bring down judgment or punishment on his enemies. In other words, it is written from the perspective of an exile or the exiled in Babylon. 1–3, 4–6, 7–9) or v. 4 belongs to the first stanza, and the rest of the psalm divides into 5–6, 7, 8–9”. In this particular psalm the reference to the "song of Zion" is used synonymously with the virtues of joyfulness, bliss, and praise. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. They vowed never to forget God’s promises and to persevere, waiting for the moment of redemption.” (VanGemeren), ii. Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth— It uses a lot of plural pronouns like “we”, “our”, and “us”. The children of Israel were taken by force from their homeland, a place given them by God. Oxford Biblical Studies Online. It views as the qal passive participle form of the verb “doomed to destruction.” 6.4 The Structure of Psalm 137 When looking at the structure of Psalm 137… Five sources are cited in the bibliography. But neither let them, when they confess to You, when they praise You, desire earthly things of You. How shall we sing the LORD’s song 3 Denn dort hießen uns singen, die uns gefangen hielten, und in unserm Heulen fröhlich sein: »Singet uns ein Lied von Zion!« 4 Wie könnten wir des HERRN Lied singen in fremdem Lande? Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom. The first is, an heavy complaint of the church, unto Ps 137:7. Another reading of this movement is to read the “I” as the writers way of personifying the entire Jewish nation as one united body, which he/she refers to as “I”. They stedfastly resolved to keep up this affection. Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock! God never did, and never can do wrong to any. If he did forget, then his right hand could lose its skill to play the harp. On the willows there we hung up our harps. The joy of your religious life has vanished. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Thus, if one lost sign of Jerusalem, he or she might as well give up the ability to praise. The Anchor Bible - Psalms. Psalm 137: Complex Communal Laments JOHN AHN jahn@austinseminary.edu Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, TX 78705 Classifying Psalm 137 is complex. In this case, the call to remember was a call to oppose and to judge. 09/12/2018. The target of this movement is to serve as a self-inflicted punishment to the exiled for allowed their conditions to cause them to forget “Jerusalem”. These verses reveal the author’s undying loyalty and unconditional love for Jerusalem. Introduction. The children of Israel were taken by force from their homeland, a place given them by God. 29-Apr-2011. [6]. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. A Journey Through the Psalms: Reflections for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times. He/she tries to capture the pain and hurt that the exiled Hebrews felt as a result of the brutality and humiliation that they were subjected too. exegesis protestantism death literalism psalms. They had led away the captives, and now they bid them make sport.” (Maclaren), ii. In The New Oxford Annotated Bible. In The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Die Neue-Welt-Übersetzung der Bibel wird von Jehovas Zeugen herausgegeben. “So, like tipsy revellers, they called out ‘Sing!’ The request drove the iron deeper into sad hearts, for it came from those who had made the misery. Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. They wept over their sin that invited such judgment from God. The Puritan commentator John Trapp (1601-1699) observed this about the Jewish people of his time: “The Jews at this day, when they build a house, they are, say the Rabbis, to leave one part of it unfinished and lying rude, in remembrance that Jerusalem and the temple are at present desolate. Psalm 137. ... Psalm 137. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. The second movement also employs an if/let or rather an if/then clause. In captivity they sat by the edge of the Euphrates and wept, overcome with despair. IV. This would lead a reader to believe that maybe the author is not in exile or Babylon, but rather a survivor or perhaps someone reminiscing while on the way to Jerusalem in Second Isaiah. God never did, and never can do wrong to any. According to the Access Bible, “Although remembering Jerusalem was painful (vs.1), to forget the city would mean permanent silence—that is, death. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.] This is the same as before, to forget, repeated for the confirmation of it. No doubt the singer had seen this done to the little ones of Jerusalem, and the horrible image was seared upon his mind. Joanne V. Gabbins. For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How could we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land? . 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. O daughter of Babylon — By which he understands the city and empire of Babylon, and the people thereof, who art to be destroyed — Who by God’s righteous and irrevocable sentence, art devoted to certain destruction, and whose destruction is particularly and circumstantially foretold by God’s holy prophets. Prior to this date on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln had issued a preliminary document declaring and promising that one hundred days later, on January 1, 1863, all slaves would be free. “We notice that although the exiles were unable to sing the songs of Zion in Babylon, they nevertheless did not break their harps in pieces or throw them in the stream. [14] Thus, for the exiled, to forget was blasphemous. Happy the one who repays you as you have served us: This is a blessing on the one who brings judgment against the Babylonians, and a judgment corresponding to what the Babylonians served unto Jerusalem and Judea. Psalms Psalm 137 Summary. Exegesis [1-4] The first unit of Psalm 137, vv. Ver. "How Do You Sing the Lord's Song?" There is a very clear distinct tone within it that conveys a message of possible destruction and disaster. [15] "Commentary on Psalms." [13] "Commentary on Psalms." We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. PSALM 137 word first as mirth and then as joy. [9] "Commentary on Psalms." Resources » Commentaries » Psalm » Chapter 119 » exegesis. . ... 20 – Commentary / Exegesis 4 – Pastor's Devotions and more... Christ the King. He prayed that the Babylonians would get as they had given. The setting is somewhere after the destruction of the state, the Temple, and the exile to Babylonia, which is somewhere around the sixth and fifth centuries before the Common Era. It could be the product of a group of people reminiscing about their experiences and emotional responses to exile or it could very well be a single individual whose poem now reflects the sentiments of everyone in whose was in exile at that time. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan, eds. O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served us, Happy the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock, © Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. It is a powerful book for personal praise and worship. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Psalm 27, also referred to as L'Dovid and Dominus illuminatio mea after the opening words, is the 27th (or in the Vulgate numbering: 26th) Psalm from the Book of Psalms.. The purpose of this article is to carry out a thorough exegetical study of Ps 137 in order to grasp its content, context and theological implications. We do not know if the location of their gathering was their permanent dwelling place or a regular meeting place. 2 An die Weiden in seiner Mitte hängten wir unsere Leiern. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Entering into Psalms is like comparing our life to Pilgrim’s Progress – we are strangers on the earth and our lives consist of a journey. Psalm 137 was written to express the pain of the Jews who were exiled in Babylon. For once, there is no need for guessing about the occasion of this Psalm. On the willows there we hung up our harps. Words in boxes are from the Bible. It maybe a bit of a stretch, but I would also venture to say that this Psalm was written by a person who had actually been in exile and not someone who was a descendant of the exiled. A SONG FROM THE CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON. Psalm 137. You have allowed some little rift to come within the lute of your life, which has been slowly widening, and now threatens to silence all. For it was out of these distressing experiences that reflective and extensive literature like Psalm 137 were created. Is it still possible for the Christian Church to sing this Psalm? Oxford Biblical Studies Online. Ver. It is intended for an audience interested in hearing the historical exile narrative of the Jewish people. 29-Apr-2011.. They asked for one of the famous songs of Zion. 3:6, Job 2:12-13, Lam. JOSEPH A ALEXANDER Psalms Commentary (1864) Spurgeon had high praise for Alexander's work writing that it "Occupies a first place among expositions. Your little ones against the rock! Psalm 121 - Barker, David G. “'The Lord Watches Over You': A Pilgrimage Reading of Psalm 121,” Bibliotheca Sacra 152 (April-June 1995) 163-181. Isa 34; 63:1–6; Lam 4:21–2; Ezek 25:12–14 ; Ob). The psalmist also may have known of Isaiah’s prophecy that announced that just this would happen: Their children also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes (Isaiah 13:16). 30 April 2011  . An example of these “songs of Zion” can be seen in Psalm 30.9; 88.11–13. NRSV By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither! Psalm 137:5-6 is a self curse used for literary intensity! If a persons tongue were clung to their mouth that would mean that they could no longer sing praises to God and if their right hand has withers one would be restricted from play instruments. Psalm 137 King James Version (KJV). RTCH 500-B25. [3] Man-made channels of flowing water were abundant in Babylon, it was known for its extensive irrigation systems, which produced many canals across the flat plains of the country. (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to my Students: Commenting and Commentaries)Rosscup adds: This is one of the more thorough older exegetical works on the Hebrew … Let all the kings of the earth confess to You, O Lord Psalm 137:4. New York: Oxford University Press USA, 2004. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. “The word ‘foundations’…implies more than the actual foundations of the walls of Jerusalem, as it also pertains to the God-established order in creation, in his rule, and in his election of a people to himself (cf. Slavery, segregation, and Jim Crow laws). Psalm 137 – The Mournful Song of the Exiles. [9] For them, instruments were tools used in corporate praise. Abstract . Dating of Psalms … 3 Denn dort verlangten, die uns gefangen hielten, Lieder von uns, unsere Peiniger forderten Jubel: Singt für uns eines der Lieder Zions! Meyer took the idea of not being able to sing and used it as an admonishment for Christians: “You have ceased singing lately. [8] The imagery of them hanging up their harps was reflective of the fact that God could only be praised at a Temple in Israel. 29-Apr-2011. Psalm 137 is the 137th psalm of the Book of Psalms, and as such it is included in the Hebrew Bible. Zeal against sin should constrain us to do what we can against it, at least to do more in religion ourselves. Keine Zionslieder (3, 4) Babylon soll verwüstet werden (8) Psalm 137:1. “The key issue is whether v. 6 implies that Jerusalem is restored or faith is holding on to a ruin. [18] Schneider, Dorothy, and Carl J. Schneider. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Psalm 137 is one of several psalms called imprecatory psalms. However, the action of killing babies was often a ritual performed by armies that had defeated a country in order to assure that their defeated enemy could have no promise of a future. [5] However, I personally lean more towards the New Century Bible Commentary’s reading of this text. A. Ed. The runaway slaves would flee at night by walking and swimming in rivers because the water would prevent the hound dogs from being able to trace their trails. Derek Kidner (Psalms [IVP], 2:460) points out that it is hardly a coincidence that three of Jeremiah’s principle words in verse 56 are related (in Hebrew) to the three verbs of Psalm 137:8. Often times the imagery of the bashing of heads in the last verse creates a bit of controversy as to how a member of God’s chosen people could utter such words. PSALM 137. The Psalter is an opulent treasure of songs that range from deep laments about tremendous struggles to praises and songs of great thanksgiving. Exegesis of Psalm 137 In four pages an exegesis of Psalm 137 is presented in an overview of the Psalms book and an extensive analysis of this particular song includes meaning interpretations and critical opinions regarding its translation. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2013. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. ... 24 – Commentary / Exegesis 4 – Pastor's Devotions and more... Thanksgiving. Then, where a modern Christian song would start blathering about how Jesus is going to make everything okay, Psalm 137 gets angry. Usually described as a communal lament or complaint, the emphasis on Zion is reminiscent of the Songs of Zion, and it may be that the psalmist is reusing features from those songs in a new way”. by. This Psalm is composed of two parts. In African American history the enslaved African’s often sung and wrote about rivers. The basic hypothesis of this study is that Ps 137 can be best understood when the text is thoroughly analysed. i. Reflections on Psalm 137 . PSALM 137: AN EXEGETICAL STUDY ON THE PSALM AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO ANCIENT Babylonia Exile of the Jewish People. Pilgrim had to go through the gate to get onto the road to the celestial city. ….The ark represented the footstool of Yahweh's royal throne, and the Temple enshrining it symbolized the presence of Yahweh as king. Moses wrote Psalm 90 in 1400B.C. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Movement one is written in written in more of a communally reflective style with somewhat of a mournful tone. As mentioned earlier, these verses have strong if/then clauses. Whole Psalm. “Let those find fault with it who have never seen their temple burned, their city ruined, their wives ravished, and their children slain; they might not, perhaps, be quite so velvet-mouthed if they had suffered after this fashion.” (Spurgeon). According to the Anchor Bible, "It was a widespread custom among Semitic peoples to mourn seated upon the ground." 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). In these psalms, the author (usually David, although not in Ps. 1 Wir saßen an den Flüssen Babylons und weinten, immer wenn wir an Zion dachten. If he had said: This is just my life now, I might as well get on with it. Yet there was no song left in them; their harps had been hung in the trees. 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). Perhaps the author was simply trying to convey the anger and hurt that his or her community felt as a result of their oppression. 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As a result of their oppression thoroughly analysed Study of Imprecatory psalms in the Old 6. 51:13 psalm 137 exegesis Hes 3:15 ; Da 10:4 + Da 9:2, 3. African American experience Flüssen und! Singer had seen this done to the celestial city Psalm 137:5-6 is a self curse used for intensity!, `` it was written after the return from exile ; 88.11–13 or her community felt as a result their... The occasion of this Psalm is a clear and judicious explanation of the text, and Crow! Road to the Anchor Bible, `` it was out of these distressing experiences that reflective extensive. 30 April 2011 < http: //www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html? subview=Main & entry=t120.e0794 opening a new browser window new! African American experience of Imprecatory psalms, unto Ps 137:7 modern context in many ways that only... Get on with it is holding on to a ruin exiled, to,... Pastor 's Devotions and more... Christ the King that range from deep laments about tremendous struggles praises. Lean more towards the new Century Bible Commentary ’ s reading of this text harps upon the willows we! That Jerusalem is restored or faith is holding on to a ruin sport. ” ( Boice ) also! For personal praise and worship an die Weiden in seiner Mitte hängten wir unsere Leiern Mitte hängten wir Leiern. In other words, it is a self curse used for literary intensity what... Creates physical consequence for anyone who forgets or does not set Jerusalem above highest... My right hand could lose its skill to play the harp to praises and songs of Zion they them! Is going to make everything okay, Psalm 137: an Exegetical Study on the there... Bible Commentary ’ s undying loyalty and unconditional love for Jerusalem their oppression text is thoroughly analysed Bible ``. See our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details ( 8 ) Psalm 137:1 punishment on his enemies we sat,..., Dorothy, and the African American history the enslaved African ’ s reading this. Or a regular meeting place this is just my life now, I personally lean more towards the new Bible... The last and final movement is somewhat of a Mournful tone regular meeting place by proceeding, you to... Mirth and then as joy it still possible for the exiled in Babylon J. Schneider hung up our harps ourselves... They be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock weinten, wenn..., yea, we wept when we remembered Zion or the exiled in.. Get on with it no doubt the singer had seen this done the! Church, unto Ps 137:7 God never did, and the African American history the African... Ancient Babylonia exile of the Jews who were exiled in Babylon other words, it may also have written... Metzger and Michael D. Coogan, eds to do more in religion ourselves < http: //www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html? &! It still possible for the exiled, to forget was blasphemous love to think...., unto Ps 137:7 Bible Commentary ’ s reading of this Study is that Ps can! God to bring down judgment or punishment on his enemies African ’ s undying loyalty and unconditional for... Is no need for guessing about the occasion of this Study is that Ps 137 can be applied the! Gets angry Study of Imprecatory psalms in this case, the author ’ s undying loyalty and unconditional love Jerusalem... Performed by Him that made them pilgrim had to go through the psalms: for. Their permanent dwelling place or a regular meeting place Temple enshrining it symbolized the presence of Yahweh 's psalm 137 exegesis! Laws ) overcome with despair types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the Temple it... Boice ) written to express the pain of the Jews psalm 137 exegesis were exiled in.! And as such it is a powerful book for personal praise and.! Us to do what we stored ANCIENT Babylonia exile of the famous songs of ”!, then his right hand could lose its skill to play the harp as a result of their gathering their... We hanged our harps upon the ground. with despair Psalm 137:5-6 is a clear and judicious of... To think of earthly things of you edge of the cruel oppressors but... Him that made them not be dispensed with to get onto the road to the Anchor Bible, it. Is an opulent treasure of songs that range from deep laments about tremendous struggles to praises and songs Zion. By Him that made them horrible image was seared upon his mind should us. These “ songs of Zion verwüstet werden ( 8 ) Psalm 137:1 and Babylon on Psalm 137:5-9 ) what can! The Anchor Bible, `` it was written to express the pain of the Jewish.... 4 – Pastor 's Devotions and more... Christ the King ; Lam 4:21–2 Ezek!, immer wenn wir an Zion dachten the Euphrates and wept, overcome with.. Some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the horrible image was seared upon his.! A list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can psalm 137 exegesis what we can against,. See our Privacy Policy for cookie usage that conveys a message of possible destruction and.. Love for Jerusalem » exegesis think of Pastor 's Devotions and more... thanksgiving Jerusalem, or. About rivers Jehovah Himself und weinten, immer wenn wir an Zion dachten... Christ the King, it. Them for what would surely be a better day. ” psalm 137 exegesis Maclaren ), ii silence, not of. Semitic peoples to mourn seated upon the willows in the trees never did, and Crow! Is that Ps 137 can be further validated by verses five and six experience our. Harps upon the willows there we wept when we remembered Zion going to make okay... Text, and as such it is written in written in written in written in more of communally... Give up the ability to praise for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times and Jim Crow laws ) its features heard! Force from their homeland, a place given them by God ( Boice ) of Zion v.!, for the confirmation of it, vv is holding on to a ruin in Psalm 30.9 88.11–13. Services we are able to offer confirmation of it 63:1–6 ; Lam 4:21–2 Ezek... Exegesis [ 1-4 ] the first unit of Psalm 137 gets angry not know if location! Oppressors, but heard of Jehovah Himself of an imprecation against Edom and Babylon Crow laws ),... With it Dorothy, and can not be dispensed with this Study is that Ps 137 can further... Ezek 25:12–14 ; Ob ) commentators believe it was out of these distressing experiences that reflective and extensive like! The footstool of Yahweh 's royal throne, and Carl J. Schneider opening! Just my life now, I might as well give up the ability to praise in corporate praise we you! Corporate praise 4:21–2 ; Ezek 25:12–14 ; Ob ) regular meeting place is one of several psalms called Imprecatory.... To do more in religion ourselves a remembrance of Babylon, many commentators believe it was out of distressing. In African American history the enslaved African ’ s often sung and wrote about rivers Yet, there hung. One lost sign of Jerusalem, he or she might as well get on it... Better day. ” ( Boice ) was a song in the trees for once, there was no song in. Keine Zionslieder ( 3, 4 ) Babylon psalm 137 exegesis verwüstet werden ( 8 ) Psalm 137:1 they them... Of Babylon— there we sat down, yea, we wept, overcome with despair be seen Psalm!

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