Psalm 137 – Derek: Meditating on the Way
Psalm 137 begins with a powerful lament but ends with what some have called the worst verse in the Bible. Its last three verses are excluded from most Western modern liturgies, and it is a source of embarrassment to many believers, especially disciples of Jesus.
Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks discuss both its lament and its ending imprecation (or cursing) of the enemies of Israel. It is the ancient voice of victims who cry out for justice, though their imprecation is disturbing and horrifying to modern ears.
In the video, we recommended the book by Erich Zengar, A God of Vengeance? Understanding the Psalms of Divine Wrath.
For more on this Psalm, see these resources from Bobby and John Mark.