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Lutheran reading notes

In Psalms chapter 137, the wisdom literature continues to explore prayer, worship, lament, praise, and trust in God. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.

Theme: Wisdom, prayer, and faithful living Key people: Wise figures Key place: Israel Liturgical use: Wisdom lections
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Psalms 137:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Psalms 137:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us {required of us} mirth, {saying}, Sing us {one} of the songs of Zion. {a song: Heb. the words of a song} {wasted...: Heb. laid us on heaps}
Psalms 137:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? {strange...: Heb. land of a stranger?}
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget {her cunning}.
Psalms 137:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. {my chief...: Heb. the head of my joy}
Psalms 137:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase {it}, rase {it, even} to the foundation thereof. {Rase it: Heb. Make bare}
Psalms 137:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy {shall he be}, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. {destroyed: Heb. wasted} {rewardeth...: Heb. recompenseth unto thee thy deed which thou didst to us}
Psalms 137:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9 Happy {shall he be}, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. {the stones: Heb. the rock}
Psalms 137:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.