Psalms 137:7 meaning

In the midst of Babylonian exile, the Israelites expressed a deep yearning for their homeland, Zion. This sorrowful psalm poignantly captures their emotional turmoil—stripped of their homeland and beset by their oppressors, they found it impossible to sing the songs dedicated to the Lord. Instead, they hung their harps, symbolic of their heartbreak, on the willow trees that lined the rivers of Babylon. The sentiment encapsulated is one of longing and lament, depicting how their love for Jerusalem transcended their physical and spiritual captivity. This deep affection for Zion is emphasized in their commitment that they would eventually return to celebrate and honor it once again.

In this particular verse, the psalmist invokes the Lord to remember the children of Edom, who reveled in Jerusalem's destruction, reflecting a righteous indignation rather than a vengeful spirit. This imprecatory prayer asserts that while they mourn their losses, they seek justice against those who aided their captivity, highlighting the theme of divine retribution that resonates throughout the text. This fittingly aligns with the understanding that God’s faithfulness will bring about the fall of their oppressors, as reflected in Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, Raze it, raze it to its very foundation..