Psalm 137: Breaking the Cycle of Anger 

 

Introduction

We see it every time we read or watch the news. Revenge. The Middle East has been locked in a perpetual cycle of violence because of revenge. We see it in a personal scale in our own communities when someone is attacked or killed in response to a prior attack. We feel it in our hearts when someone hurts us deeply. We see within ourselves a desire to lash out and extract revenge upon a person who hurt us. This happens in marriages, in business and everywhere that people interact. Revenge of course is nothing new. It is the story of mankind. Psalm 137 drips with pain and cries out for vengeance. Unlike many other Psalms this Psalm does not come to a resolution. There is no 'therefore I will wait upon the Lord' or 'trust in the Lord and do good'. Instead just raw emotion hurled at God in a prayer. What sense can we make of verses 8 and 9? Are God's people capable of such depth of anger and vengeance that they would wish to see their enemies babies smashed upon rocks? The sad answer is yes. As Jeremiah reminds us the human heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). The Bible however does not stop at Psalm 137. The human race cries out for a balm to heal the depravity within each of us. God's plan all along is to provide just what is needed to change our hearts from desperately wicked to pure love. Jesus and his death on the cross is the balm that each of us need to break the anger cycle.

Some Background Information

This Psalm was written during the captivity (the period in Israel's history when they were taken captive to Babylon). It is written by a people who have lost everything and experienced the consequences of their turning away from God. Psalm 137 is known as an imprecatory Psalm. That is to say it is a call to God to bring judgment upon ones enemies. Other Psalms of this type are Psalms 69 and 109. Babylon had invaded Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed it and taken many of the people captive. Edom was a neighbor of Judah. The people of Edom were the decedents of Esau and thus in a distant sense cousins of the Jews since both were descended from Issac. When Judah was attacked by Babylon the Edomites cheered and looted their neighbors. The book of Obadiah verse 10-14 gives background on what happened. Psalm 137 like every portion of scripture must be read and understood in the context of the entire Bible. Certainly the teaching of Jesus calls for a different response to our enemies than we see here in Psalm 137. The death of Jesus on the cross if received into our lives gives us the power to respond differently when others do hurt us.

Some Devotional Ideas

1. Let God know your true feelings in prayer. This Psalm is an example of that.
2. Examine your heart regularly and resolve hurt and anger promptly and appropriately.
3. Take time to pray for your enemies and do good to those who are against you. (Romans 12:19-21

Final Thoughts

Let us never deceive ourselves and think that we are not capable of the worst possible thoughts and actions. In view of that may we rely on Jesus and His power daily to live as He did in pure love not hatred.