February 10, 2019 Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

PSALM 137 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! 6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy! 7 Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” 8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock! Psalm 137:1-9 English Standard Version

Some who live in peace and comfort may read this psalm and be appalled at the message of the psalmist. How does this fit in with the loving picture of Jesus? The Jesus who forgave even those who ripped His flesh and pored forth His blood? How could such a verse even be in the Bible? (We sometimes forget how Jesus talked to the religious leaders, cleared the money changers from the Temple and the woe to's for the cities who would not receive Him.)

There are three reasons I (this is my own thoughts and beliefs) believe this psalm is not only acceptable but also appropriate!

1. Those who live in safety and comfort shouldnot judge the grief and fury of those who have seen everything and everyone they love and hold dear ripped from them as they are forced to stand helplessly by. It may be possible to have sympathy for a family who has seen their daughters raped and sold into slavery or sons killed, forced to fight or enslaved. There is no way a “safe” person can understand the horror, grief and hatred of those faced with Job's and Habakkuk's dilemma.
2. It might be easy to see the psalmist as doubting and criticizing God but in truth it may be the opposite. The psalmist trusts God will allow, even desires for them to come before God and pour out their heart! They have faith God wants them to “reveal” the pain and anger God can already see! The greater faith is to believe God's love is strong enough for us to question and if there is no answer we are ready to trust in His grace!
3. The psalmist looking at the pain and destruction before them expresses a need for a balance for justice, judgment and a way to set things right. The psalmist expresses a need beyond description. A need to bring meaning out of meaningless violence and destruction! A need which would be met with the coming of Messiah – Jesus!
   But the psalmist talks about Jerusalem without mention of God. Redemptive solutions will not be found is religious places, sights, groups or armies. Redemption will only bring meaning to creation and our lives when we seek and discover it within Jesus Christ! And redemption will not always be a relief of the suffering but through Jesus receiving the faith, hope and love to go through it.

Where in your life is the need for redemption? Will you cry out to God? Realize whomever you to look to for help, protection and provision is your god!