A Difficult Prayer

Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back what you have done to us. —Psalm 137:8

Some commentators consider Psalm 137:8–9 to be the most difficult verses in the Psalms. The language is disturbing. However, this is a response to God’s expressed intentions toward this evil empire and the way they treated His people. Scripture tells us every sin Babylon had committed against Zion would be repaid (Jer. 51:24).

The requested judgment against Babylon seems unspeakably brutal (v. 9). But this is exactly what the Babylonians did to Jewish children when they sacked Jerusalem—they dashed their heads against rocks. They were incredibly cruel. God is saying to the Babylonians: this is exactly what will happen to you.

This prayer doesn’t originate from a desire for revenge but for God’s justice to be seen and for this cruel culture to be cut off from the earth. The retaliation being prayed for is just.

God had given time for the Babylonians to repent, but they refused. And God says, “You want it your way? Let Me show you what that way is going to be.”