(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 137:1-9)

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 our harps.
3 For there our captors demanded of us songs,
And our tormentors mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”

In today’s Psalm, we see an image of musicians that once led worship in Jerusalem, in the courts of the temple, with their harps hung upon willows in exile, in Babylon. Their captors, demanded them to sing songs, the songs of Zion.

The captors wanted to be entertained, but the musicians would not sing, and would not play. Rather they were by the rivers of Babylon weeping, because they remembered their home, and that they were no longer home. No more songs would come out of them as they thought to themselves,

4 How can we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?

Yes, we perhaps can understand their emotions, sadness, and despair. Perhaps it is because we have found ourselves in similar emotional situations before. But it is also here that we see the faithfulness of the heart even in times of loss and hopelessness.

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
May my right hand forget her skill,
6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
If I do not remember you,
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.

Although their harps are hung up, although they are not in the mood to play them or to sing, but the faithfulness of the heart reminds them to remember and have hope even in despair. They will not perform for their foreign captives, but their hearts will not be owned by them either.

The world can take away everything we have, but it cannot have our hearts. The faithfulness of the heart is our hope and strength, because it is the Lord’s, bought with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 137