Wednesday Morning Meditation – Psalms

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it. For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth — if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy. Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it, raze it, to its very foundation!” 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! (Psalms 137:1-9)

The Killing Of Children

This psalm is troubling to us because of the horrible violence brought against children. It would seem the author is happy to witness infants with their brains bashed against some rock in a horrible death. There would be an immediate revolt to the practice of infanticide and yet the psalmist declares by the Holy Spirit a blessing on those who carry out this heinous act. How can this be understood in the context of God’s word?

The timing of the psalm is probably during the latter part of the captivity in Babylon. It seems the writing is on the wall for the destruction of Babylon and the writer reflects upon the plight the people of God found themselves with the bondage. There had been no joy in this punishment and no songs to sing. They had been abused by their captors by mockery. Jerusalem was always on their minds in reflective tones of sadness for what had happened to her. But it was the anger of nations against the beloved city that sparked an outcry of vengeance toward the aggressors. The Lord had punished His people with the Assyrian and Babylonian nations but also with the understanding these nations would find their own judgment. It was now the turn of Babylon.

There is no glory dashing infants on rocks. When Jerusalem was razed children were not spared nor women. There is no innocence in war. When Babylon was conquered its women and children were massacred. Retaining Psalm 137 in the holy writ is not to suggest condoning these actions but to show the vicious nature of what sin will do. The author of the psalm laments what happened to Jerusalem but the reason the Lord allowed the destruction of the city was because of sin. The punishment of captivity was because of sin. Judgement upon Babylon was because of sin.

Psalm 137 should remind us of what sin will do. The massacre of the children of Bethlehem was ordered by Herod but approved by Satan. He is the master of death. The joy we have as people of God is to know that one day children will not be killed. Death and Hades will be cast into the lake of fire. And Mr. Satan will be cast there also. Praise God.

War is death’s feast. (George Herbert, Outlandish Proverbs, 1640)