Have you ever wished harm on someone? Have you ever wanted to see someone “get their come-uppance”? Have you noticed that you desire mercy for yourself and justice for your “enemies”?
Today, we’re looking at Psalm 137. These 9 verses are about Torment and Vengeance. In this
psalm, we see Israel wept, and was happy
over Babylon’s doom.
When we walk away from our time together today, I want
you to know Vengeance belongs to the
Lord, regardless of our torment.
Father-God, we pray
in Jesus’ name that You will speak to us through this psalm today. Help us to see that You are always worthy of
praise. But that You also have very big
shoulders and can handle our complaints. Amen.
Our text is divided into two parts, today:
1.By the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept (Psalm
137:1-6)
2.Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction (Psalm 137:7-9)
Let’s get right into this teaching.
Read Psalm 137:1-6.
As Psalm 137 opens, Israel is reminiscing over the “good
ole days”. She is remembering Zion while
sitting by the rivers of Babylon. Do you
recall why Israel was sitting by the rivers of Babylon? Judah was captured by the Babylonians as
taken there. Why? Because she turned her back on the Lord and
engaged in idolatry. The good ole days. Not so much.
Are you clinging to some “good ole days” that really weren’t all that
good?
She hung up her instruments and didn’t want to sing. It is a challenge to praise the Lord when you
are hurting. But that is a wonderful
time to praise the Lord. It will lift you
out of your prison of sorrow. I remember
reading an account of Corrie ten Boom’s time as a captive of the Nazis at
Ravensbruck concentration camp. A Bible
had been smuggled into the camp, and Corrie’s sister Betsie read in the Bible
that in all things, they were to give thanks to God, and that God can use all
things for good. So Bessie praised God
for the fleas and the lice that infested their overcrowded barracks. Corrie had
a difficult time giving thanks at first, but at Bessie’s insistence, she
eventually did thank God for the fleas.
Because of the fleas, the guards wouldn’t enter the barracks, so the
women were protected and they were able to have Bible studies.
What not so “good ole days” would you rather forget, but
if you really think about it, you’d have to admit that Jesus was right there,
working in you, and doing miraculous things?
But what about when your tormentors demand performance
from you? I was going to say that I’ve
never experienced being taken captive, and then hearing my captors demand that
I sing joyful songs. But I kind of feel
like I’m there right now.
In June, our music minister left us and moved across the
country to be the worship pastor at another church. I still feel the soreness from being
blindsided by the announcement. I’m
still trying to catch my breath from his leaving the week before our patriotic
musical. I still feel the squeezing in
my chest wondering what will happen to our choir program and the trip we have
planned for next summer to Scandinavia!
I couldn’t sing because I couldn’t control my breath. I thought I was done. Then, our first Sunday without him, the
people in our church came together so beautifully to make it the best worship
time we’ve had in a long time! I could
breathe. And I could sing. Joyful songs.
The tightness in my chest and inability to breathe comes
and goes. But I know God is doing a
miraculous thing. He is working where I
cannot see Him. He is growing my faith
in the midst of this pain. I look
forward to seeing His plan unfold.
Reminds me of that song “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller. Check it out.
We can sing songs of joy while we’re waiting. We can serve God. We can praise Jesus and worship Him. This is our choice. Our sacrifice of praise. I don’t want to wallow in self-pity! I don’t want to be over-dramatic and
attention-seeking! This earth is not my
home. I am in a form of captivity. I can absolutely choose to praise God while I’m
here and not feel sorry for myself. How
about you?
This leads us to our first two principles:
We can learn from
the sorrow of the past.
Jesus is deserving
of our praise, even in the midst of our pain.
How might you adopt and pursue Jesus’ attitude toward
your persecutors: “Forgive them, Father, they don’t know what they’re doing”? Where are you indulging in self-pity that you
could turn around with a sacrifice of praise?
What tiny thing will you choose to praise Jesus for right now?
Now let’s look at the last few verses.
Read Psalm 137:7-9.
When we allow ourselves to marinate in negativity, we get
bitter, not better. This is what
happened to Judah in this psalm. They
dwelled on what the Edomites did to them.
It is difficult to forgive those who hurt you. Jesus said to forgive your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you. And isn’t
that exactly what He did on the cross?
He forgave the people who nailed Him to the cross while He was hanging
from it! Oh, Lord, if I could be like
you in this area…
Judah was relishing the coming destruction of
Babylon. They looked forward to absolute
annihilation. They spoke of happiness at
seizing their infants and dashing them against rocks! Happiness!
At murdering infants! Oh, how low
the human heart can sink! The oppressed
become just like their oppressors. Let
it not be.
In my workplace, there are a couple of supervisors who
should not be supervisors. Because of
their lack of confidence and good mentors to guide them, they are
dangerous. They wield authority without
considering consequences. They bully
employees. They make demands just so
people will do what they say. They are
bosses, not leaders. And I have
disrespected them for years. My heart
has grown crusty with the frustration.
But I must praise Jesus that He is allowing this situation to exist for
a reason. He is trying to teach me
something. He is showing me that, in spite
of circumstances, He is in control. I
work for Him, but He put me under this supervisor for a reason. Open my eyes, Lord, to see what You want me
to see. To learn what You want me to
learn. Open my heart to
forgiveness. Does anyone else out there
know what I’m talking about?
Don’t let the bad situation make you bitter. Choose to praise, and let Jesus make you
better. And let Him deal with the
evil-doers.
And here are two final principles:
Pursue mercy, not
vengeance, in spite of the situation.
Leave vengeance to
the Lord.
What needs to change in your thinking for you to pursue
the salvation and sanctification of your “enemies”?
Let me ask those questions we started off with
again. Have you ever wished harm on
someone? Have you ever wanted to see
someone “get their come-uppance”? Have
you noticed that you desire mercy for yourself and justice for your
“enemies”? Now let’s take it a step
further. Have you ever seen someone
receive the harm you wished on them?
Have you witnessed someone receiving their come-uppance? How did it make you feel? Do you still want mercy for yourself? What needs to change in your heart for you to
desire mercy for your enemy, too? What
steps can you take right now toward choosing to praise Jesus?
Thank You Father, for
preserving these words in Scripture.
Thank You for being a big, big God Who is always listening. Thank You for Your example of mercy. Lead us to share Your grace with others
passionately, remembering that justice is coming sooner than we realize. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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