Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance. His faithful love endures forever.

a special possession to his servant Israel. His faithful love endures forever. (17-22)

This passage is almost an exact copy of Psalm 135:10-12 (refer) with some slight variations.

IV

SAVED FROM OUR ENEMIES - 23-26 Mercy

“He remembered our utter weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever. (23-25)

‘In verse 23 the praise changes suddenly to that which has been experienced very recently.’ 11 This is probably referring to their sudden deliverance from Babylon and return to Jerusalem; the God of the past has stepped into the present with his same merciful love. Our weakness invites the strength of God into our life; his enduring love is attracted to our deepest needs. “’My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.” (2 Cor. 12:9) The animal kingdom, wild and domestic, receives the benefits of God’s merciful love and providence. On the long trek from Babylon to Jerusalem God provided for the animals as well as his people: “So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah, in addition to 7,337 servants and 200 singers, both men and women. They took with them 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.” (Ez. 6:64-67)

“Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. (26)

‘The “God of heaven” was a favorite designation of God in the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel …It was phrase known to the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians.’ 12 This psalm ends with an international scope; God was preparing the Jewish nation for the coming Messiah whose love for all nations and people would endure forever.

1 Scroggie 2 Spurgeon 3 Kraus 4 Scroggie 5 Botterweck, Vol. 1, pages 306, 307

6 Spurgeon 7 Spurgeon

8 Kraus 9 Kraus 10 Spurgeon 11 Keil & Delitzsch 12 Spence

PSALM 137: BESIDE THE RIVERS OF BABYLON Song of the Captive Heart

This psalm is ‘the most direct and striking reminiscence of the Babylonish exile in the whole Psalter’. It’s a song of the musical tribe of Levites as they look back from Babylon to the happier days of worship in the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. They hang their harps on Babylon’s willow trees and resolve to never forget the reason they were given the gift of playing and singing, that they might worship God in his Holy Place. They look forward to the coming deliverance from their Babylonian captors who will be re- paid in the same manner as they destroyed Jerusalem. ‘Scarcely any Psalm is so easily impressed on the memory as this, which is so pictorial even in sound.’ 1 It falls into 3 distinct sections: 367