Psalms 137:1 — Sunday, May 17, 2026

The psalm expresses the pain of exile: By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. Israel's captives hung their harps on the willows, without strength to sing. The psalm mixes longing for the homeland and yearning for restoration. Today, this verse reminds us that pain is also part of the journey of faith. Tears are not a lack of faith but the expression of a heart that loves God. Even in exile, the memory of Zion kept hope alive. In our emotional Babylons, we can trust that the Lord restores the captives.