This is certainly not one of those psalms that would fit easily into our worship services, is it? The graphic desires for vengeance to come upon the enemies of the Lord’s people that we find in verses 7 through 9 are hard to read, let alone sing.

But maybe that’s because we modern American Christians have largely been protected from religious persecution. Maybe it’s because, even in today’s increasingly polarized and intolerant society, we don’t worry about people throwing rocks through our stained-glass windows, or hauling us off to jail because we have dared to gather for worship.

Many, many Christians throughout history and around the world today are not so blessed. No, it would not be hard to imagine a group of Chinese or North Korean or Iranian Christians harboring the desires of the psalmist for God to bring justice to their oppressors. And although they don’t fear for their lives, too many students at America’s most prestigious universities know all too well what it means for others to taunt them for their faith (verse 3).

So, what can we comfortable Christians learn from this psalm? While praying for those who have no trouble singing it, we can stand in awe of the psalmist’s passion, not only for God, but for His worship. For notice that the psalmist considers Jerusalem, the only place at that time where sacrifices could be offered to God, as his highest joy (verse 6). Do we place a similar value on gathering with God’s people on the Lord’s Day, easy as it is for us? Or do we find so many other weekend activities more interesting and enjoyable?

The psalmist refused to sing or rejoice if he couldn’t be in God’s presence. Do we have such an exclusive hunger and thirst for God and for fellowship with His people? Or do the excuses we make for avoiding public worship on Sunday morning reveal our true priorities?

Psalm 137 (NASB)

By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion.
2 Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps.
3 For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”
4 How can we sing the LORD’s song In a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill.
6 May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.
7 Remember, O LORD , against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, “Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation.”
8 O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, How blessed will be the one who repays you With the recompense with which you have repaid us.
9 How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.