Thursday, February 6
Read Psalm 137-138
Think About It:
Psalm 137
A Jew, probably a Levite, wrote this psalm after he had returned home from Babylon with a remnant in 536 BC. Twenty years later, Babylon was destroyed. The psalmist was with a group of former exiles recalling some of their experiences, and from this encounter with the past, he learned some lessons about the human memory, himself, and the Lord.
Their captors wanted “songs of the mirth” but the exiles had no joy. They had lost everything but God and their lives, and being normal people, they were deeply pained in their hearts. Their city, temple, and homes had been destroyed, their people had been deported, and the throne of David had been cast to the ground. But even worse, they had seen the Babylonian soldiers get great glee from throwing Jewish babies against the walls and smashing their heads (9). It was one way the Babylonians could limit the future generations of their enemies. But memory can build character (5-6). And memory can encourage faith (7-9). It was not the Jewish people who ultimately punished Babylon, but the God of Israel who answered their prayers and vindicated His people. One day, He will vindicate His Church and punish those who had persecuted and slain His servants.
Psalm 138
This psalm probably grew out of the opposition of the neighboring nations when David became king of the United Israel (2 Samuel 5, 8:1-14). It was God’s plan that David rain over Israel (8), but the Jebusites, Philistines, in Moabites wanted a divided Israel with a weak leader. David new God’s will, and prayed for God’s help (3), trusted in God’s victory (7-8), and defeated the enemy. The psalm does not mention the Lord until verse 4, but we know it is obvious that Jehovah is the object of David’s prayers and praise. The psalm helps us understand better what really happens when God answers prayers. Answered prayer glorifies God’s name (1-3), answered prayer gives witness to the lost (4-5), and answered prayer accomplishes God’s purpose in our lives (6-8). The Lord will not forsake us. It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will in heaven, but to get God’s will down on earth, and this was demonstrated in David’s life.
Is your prayer life trying to accomplish your will, or the Lord’s will? You will know by the evidence of His magnificent hand in your life.
Family Time:
Psalm 137
- What did they do by the rivers of Babylon? (verses 1-2)
- How did they reply when asked to sing one of the songs of Zion? (verses 3-4)
- What did the psalmist not want to forget? (verses 5-6)
Psalm 138
- Though the LORD be high, for whom does He have respect? (verse 6)
