Not everything in the Psalms is beautiful and loving. In fact, some of the images are horrific, such as in Psalm 137:9. The idea of revenge or vengeance turns up many times in the Psalms because the writer does not hold back his/her emotions from God, as nasty as they may be. Since God knows our thoughts and our hearts,we may as well be honest with him in prayer. Whoever wrote Psalm 137 was certainly straightforward.
The author, though, does not plan to seek revenge himself. Perhaps he is in no position to seek revenge, so he asks God to do it for him - to do to the oppressors what the oppressors had done to him. It's time to exact an eye for an eye.
We live under a new law though. We live under "Pray for your enemies. Do good to those who persecute you. Do unto others as you want them to do unto you."
Maybe you find it easy, but I don't find it easy to do good to those who hurt me. Sometimes I am much more in line with the Psalmist than I am with Jesus. I need to let the desire for revenge go.
Put a right spirit within me, Lord.
The author, though, does not plan to seek revenge himself. Perhaps he is in no position to seek revenge, so he asks God to do it for him - to do to the oppressors what the oppressors had done to him. It's time to exact an eye for an eye.
We live under a new law though. We live under "Pray for your enemies. Do good to those who persecute you. Do unto others as you want them to do unto you."
Maybe you find it easy, but I don't find it easy to do good to those who hurt me. Sometimes I am much more in line with the Psalmist than I am with Jesus. I need to let the desire for revenge go.
Put a right spirit within me, Lord.
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