Peter Barnes | Psalm 137
SERMON NOTES
WEEPING IN BABYLON
Psalm 137
– Imprecatory Psalms (58, 68, 69, 79, 109, 137, 139). Psalm 137 written about the exile in Babylon after the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem in 587 B.C.
1. Christians may experience terrible misery.
– 137:1-4. The slaves in the cotton plantations of the southern states of the USA would sing the Negro spirituals, but not these Hebrews.
– Prov.18:14. Martyn Lloyd-Jones at least twice he went through dark periods in his life as a preacher.
2. Faith may make us angry.
– 137:4-6. It is not just that the dream home has been burgled or struck by lightning.
– Ps.87:1-3; Dan.9:17-19; Psalm 122; Ps.78:68; 132:13; see Lam.1:16; 2:11. It is faith that has made for this sorrow, confusion, and anger.
3. We must make a place for God’s wrath.
– 137:7-9; see Obadiah 10-14 for Edom.
– Augustine heard some of his people pray: ‘Lord, avenge me. Kill my enemy.’
– ‘children of Israel’ means all Israel. 2 Kings 8:12; Hos.10:14; 13:16 are literal, but the children in Ps.137:9 could refer to all Babylon.
The New Testament has imprecatory statements – 1 Cor.16:22; Rev.6:10; 18:9-10, 20. And God Himself is a consuming fire.