Well, I guess I should say it’s good to be back (though, to be honest, I’d still rather be at the beach).  But I am back, and I want to thank Ron, Mark, Frank, James, and Tom for filling the pulpit in my absence.  It’s a blessing (for all of us) to have elders that can minister the Word of God to us so well.

This week we’ll be looking at Psalm 137 and a “Prayer for our Anger.”  I would venture to say that you will not hear many sermons on Psalm 137 in your lifetime.  It’s not the kind of psalm that lends itself to easy preaching.  Some texts are fun to preach because they’re helpful and easy to apply.  Not Psalm 137.  It contains difficult words.  It’s one of the most difficult of all Psalms, because it contains one of the most difficult verses (to hear and understand) found in the entire Bible. 

And that’s because Psalm 137 is one of several psalms called “Imprecatory Psalms.”  In these psalms, the author invokes God to bring down judgment on His enemies.  Since there are a number of imprecatory psalms, and since these passages have caused many doubts and questions in the hearts of sincere believers, We will need to grapple with the problems they present before we leave our summer series on the Psalms (we’ll be turning to 1 & 2 Timothy this Fall).

Dane Ortlund writes that “One of the remarkable virtues of the Bible is its earthy realism.  Consider that the Bible does not summon you to a super-spiritual existence, asking you to wade stoically through life above the reach of pain, weeping, and anger.  The Bible rather gives us categories and language by which to speak and pray our pain, tears, and anger to God.

How does Psalm 137 do that?  Rather shockingly, by praying for the destruction of Israel’s enemies!  By demanding that the pain these enemies brought upon Israel would be brought upon them instead.  This does not sound like the teaching of a gentle Jesus, we might say.  But this is actually deeply consoling.  We are reminded that God does not look the other way when His people are afflicted.  He defends them.  Justice will prevail.  Rights will be wronged.  We will be reminded that the Bible is a real book about a real God who sent a real Son to rescue real sinners from real evil.  It is not a book of fairy tales.  It is a book you can trust, for it reveals to us a God we can trust.” 

So, that’s what we’re going to look at this Sunday.  I think you’ll find it fascinating, and maybe a little frightening.  See you then, Dr. Dave