This is a psalm of and for dark times, written at a time when God’s people were in exile. They wept (v 1). They longed to be where they belonged; but their cruel captors demanded to hear the joyful songs of worship from Jerusalem’s Temple (v 3), which they themselves had burned to the ground – and that was not the worst thing they had done.

It is no wonder that this psalm is full of bitterness and a desire for justice – and, let’s be honest, revenge (vs 8,9).

But let’s be more honest: though most have not (thank God) experienced the trauma known by the writers of this psalm, perhaps we can recognise the visceral and violent desire for revenge. And let’s be even more honest: we too have hurt others, often as much as we have been hurt ourselves.

The truth is, we all have the same broken hearts as the Babylonian soldiers who committed such atrocities, the same broken hearts as the Israelites who in bitterness prayed for vengeance, the same broken hearts for which Jesus’ heart broke, on the cross, the same broken hearts he longs to heal.

Consider today whether you are harbouring bitter thoughts and offer them up to God.

In 597 bc Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian Empire. Many of Judea’s leading citizens were forcibly transported to Babylon, thus disabling the state of Judea. Then in 586 bc the Jewish Temple was destroyed. These degradations marked the disruption of all the main Jewish institutions. This famous psalm is a tragic lament for what had been lost and a poem of longing for the sight of Jerusalem. The psalmist is unable to sing or to play the songs of Zion when teased (tormented?) by the captors. 

It begins beautifully and ends problematically. To be away from Jerusalem felt to the exiles like being away from the Lord (v 4). In time, they would discover that the Lord was with them wherever they happened to be.¹ Also, in time, they would refashion their faith significantly – making the written Scriptures rather than the Temple more central and (probably) beginning to gather in synagogue congregations for study. By the grace of God, exile was to prove a testing and transforming experience which has made its impact even on Christianity. Through judgement, God works purification so that even wrath can lead to mercy.

What, then, do we make of verses 7–9? How can we consider these worthy of a place within the canon? Whether we think them worthy or not, they are real. When the Scriptures describe, this is not the same as something being prescribed. In its distress, when Jerusalem was being destroyed, the neighbouring Edomites joined in plundering and defiling the city.² Such actions were clearly treacherous. No wonder Judeans were bitter – and bitter people hope for revenge even if they should not. The best that can be said is that it is better out than in. It is better to express bitterness to God than to suppress it. God can deal with it.

‘Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath’.³ 

¹ Ps 139:7–12; Ezek 1–3  ² Obad 8–14  ³ Rom 12:19