Psalm 137:1

Psalm 137:1

By the rivers of Babylon

The notes in my Study Bible introduce this Psalm as follows: - “A plaintive song of the exile – of one who has recently returned from Babylon but in whose soul there lingers the bitter memories of the years in a foreign land and of the cruel events that led to that enforced stay.”

Previous Psalms have described the love that the Israelites had for Zion and the Temple of God and its feasts and ceremonies that accompanied their faith. This Psalm also reflects those sentiments and the pain of being separated from the City of God. 

Boney M turned these words into an international hit song in 1978, these are the lyrics they sang.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion

When the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
Now how shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land

When the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Requiring of us a song
Now how shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land

Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight

Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion

By the rivers of Babylon (dark tears of Babylon)
There we sat down (You got to sing a song)
Ye-eah we wept, (Sing a song of love)
When we remembered Zion. (Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)

By the rivers of Babylon (Rough bits of Babylon)
There we sat down (You hear the people cry)
Ye-eah we wept, (They need their God)
When we remembered Zion. (Ooh, have the power)

 

 

V1        The two major rivers of Babylon are the Tigris and the Euphrates, obviously these rivers have tributaries and are also sources of irrigation canals but, in my mind, I see the weary exiles sitting beside the two major rivers, watching the currents flow and longing for home. In those moments they mourned their far away land and sorrowfully recalled the events that had led to their enforced separation from Zion. Job, when describing his sorrowful plight, talks of sitting on the ground for seven days and seven nights, obviously this had some kind of symbolic meaning probably representing humility, shame and subjection to the grief and pain of the circumstances. (Job 2:11-13.)

Many people have moments of regret, memories of past mistakes made but also the pain of the repercussions. Broken relationships that were treasured, stupid decisions that brought calamity, selfish moments that have left deep wounds, the list is a long one. As we all know, it is impossible to turn the clock back and so we mourn the past and the people and places that we loved who are no longer part of our lives. It is even more tragic when we can recall the times when our faith was strong, when our love of the Lord featured prominently in our past and when fellowship with Him and His people was such a joy. If that is you and those days have been lost, yes, it is good to weep for Zion but it is also time to takes steps to healing and restoration. God has not forsaken you. 


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