1
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.
2
Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung up our harps.
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.”
4
How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?
5
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill.
6
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7
Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem’s fall, who said, “Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.”
8
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
9
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
🕊️🙏📖 Summary of Psalm 137 – “Lament in Babylon and Longing for Jerusalem”
Psalm 137 is one of the most emotional and moving psalms, reflecting the suffering of Israel in exile in Babylon.
Filled with longing for Zion (Jerusalem), it also contains a sharp cry for judgment against the nation that oppressed them.
This psalm reflects a broken soul, loss, yet steadfast faithfulness to God and His holy place.
📌 1. Weeping by the Rivers of Babylon (verses 1–3)
➡️ “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.”
➡️ “We hung our harps upon the willows there.”
➡️ The Babylonians asked for songs of Zion, but God’s people refused — they could not sing in a foreign land.
🎯 Deep sorrow when separated from God’s presence and the house of worship.
📌 2. A Vow of Loyalty to Jerusalem (verses 4–6)
➡️ “How could we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?”
➡️ “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its usefulness!”
➡️ “Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth… if I do not set Jerusalem above my chief joy!”
🎯 Spiritual loyalty: even in suffering, Jerusalem (a symbol of God’s presence) remains the heart’s priority and longing.
📌 3. A Cry for Judgment against Edom and Babylon (verses 7–9)
➡️ “Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom…”
➡️ “Woe to you, Babylon, who shall be repaid…”
➡️ “Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.”
🎯 This is a lament for justice, not personal revenge.
It gives voice to the cry of an oppressed people calling upon God as Judge.
⚠️ Verse 9 is very severe, but it should be read as an expression of extreme suffering, not as a justification for violence.
📖 Main Lessons
- Longing for God’s presence cannot be replaced by worldly entertainment or songs
- Jerusalem symbolizes the center of worship and fellowship with God
- In suffering, faithfulness to God remains the highest commitment
- God is a righteous Judge over oppressive nations
- This psalm reflects a soul crying out amid pain and exile
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Philippians 3:20
“Our citizenship is in heaven…”
➡️ Just as the people in Babylon, we are strangers and pilgrims who long for our heavenly home.
📖 Revelation 18:2, 6
“Babylon the great is fallen…”
➡️ Babylon becomes a symbol of a sinful world, and God will repay it.
📖 Hebrews 11:13–16
“They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…”
➡️ This psalm gives voice to longing for the spiritual land of promise.
📖 Romans 12:19
“Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.”
➡️ This psalm is a cry for God’s justice, not human revenge.
🕊️ “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?” – Psalm 137:4
🕊️ “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill!” – Psalm 137:5
🕊️ “Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom…” – Psalm 137:7
