What is the meaning of Psalm 137:7? Remember, O LORD The psalmist begins with a direct plea: “Remember, O LORD.” • This is not a reminder for a forgetful God; it is an appeal to His covenant faithfulness (Exodus 2:24; Psalm 94:3–7). • Calling on God to “remember” anchors the request in His justice and His promises to defend His people (Jeremiah 51:50; Luke 18:7). • The focus is God’s action—He is asked to take note and respond, underscoring confidence that His judgments are always right (Psalm 9:12; Revelation 6:10). the sons of Edom Edom, descended from Esau, was Israel’s near relative yet persistent foe (Genesis 25:23; Obadiah 8–10). • Their hostility was longstanding, marked by resentment and opportunism (Ezekiel 35:5; Amos 1:11). • Instead of standing with their “brother” nation, they eagerly joined the chorus against Jerusalem (Lamentations 4:21–22). • God later pronounced decisive judgment on Edom for this very betrayal (Jeremiah 49:7–22; Malachi 1:2–4). on the day Jerusalem fell The “day” points to 586 BC, when Babylon breached the city walls (2 Kings 25:9–10; Jeremiah 52:6–7). • It was a day of unimaginable loss: temple burned, king captured, people exiled (Lamentations 2:11–12). • Edom’s actions turned disaster into disgrace, deepening the wound of defeat (Psalm 79:1–4). • The psalmist anchors the request in a historical moment, affirming that God judges specific deeds in real time (Jeremiah 30:17). “Destroy it,” they said Edom’s rallying cry shows deliberate malice. • They did not merely watch; they urged Babylon to finish the job—active complicity (Obadiah 14). • Their words exposed a heart of violence, contradicting God’s call to neighborly love (Proverbs 24:17–18). • Such speech matters; Scripture consistently links words to moral accountability (Matthew 12:36; James 3:5–6). “tear it down to its foundations!” The demand for total demolition reaches beyond conquest to annihilation. • It recalls earlier assaults on holy places (Psalm 74:3–8) and foreshadows later prophecies of Babylon’s own downfall (Jeremiah 51:58; Isaiah 13:19–22). • Stripping Jerusalem “to its foundations” was an attack on identity, worship, and hope—yet God would rebuild (Ezra 3:10–13; Zechariah 1:14–17). • The psalmist’s citation of Edom’s words forms the basis for righteous appeal: God hears, records, and will answer (Malachi 3:16). summary Psalm 137:7 captures a cry for divine justice against Edom’s treachery when Jerusalem fell. The psalmist trusts God to remember the specific words and deeds of Edom, confident that the Lord’s righteousness will prevail. Far from endorsing personal revenge, the verse models faith that God alone rightly judges, heals, and ultimately restores His people. |
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