Psalm 137

Brendaonline.com

God commanded a song even during tough times.

God prophesied that everything that happened would happen.

What is the purpose of a song?

To tell a story, express an emotion, or convey a belief in faith.  

Sometimes songs represent the giving of instructions

137 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

Israel cried.

2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

Israel lost the conveniences they were accustomed to.  Now even the musical instruments they valued were displayed being hung from a bush.

3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

Those who captured them wanted to be amused by their song.  It is as we do today, we take the lyrics that belong to God and sing to the flesh of men.  The enemy does not care if our worship songs belong to our expression toward God, he will take whatever God has and twist it to satisfy its lust.

4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

Israel questions how can we sing songs that belong to God to mere men?

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

If ever I forget God, may my life be as nothing. Israel knew that if my memory of God is gone then nothing matters.  The memory is a teacher when you have to live without what you once had and what you had was the best.

7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

Edom were the decedents of Esau. Edom hated Israel. 

Edom attacked Israel when they were tired and when they first left Egypt. Now Israel is asking God to remember what happened to them and don't allow Israel suffering by Edom to go undealt with.

8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

What the enemy did to Israel was not good.  Israel is telling the enemy, you will pay big for how you mistreated us and our children.  The day will come when the enemy will be judged for how they mistreated those who were wrong.