Part 7: Praying Your Anger

PSALMS OF SUMMER

PART 7

Psalm 137:1-9

• The Backstory: The Babylonian exile

1.  OWN YOUR ANGER.

“Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem. We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.” Psalm 137:1-2 (NLT)

“For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: ‘Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!’ But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp. May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.” Psalm 137:3-6 (NLT)

2.  PRAY YOUR ANGER.

“O Lord, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. ‘Destroy it!’ they yelled. ‘Level it to the ground!’” Psalm 137:7 (NLT)

3.  LIMIT YOUR ANGER.

“Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. ‘Tear it down,’ they cried, ‘tear it down to its foundations!’” Psalm 137:7 (NIV)

“O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!  Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” Psalm 137:8-9 (ESV)

• Pay your forgiveness forward.  

• Want good for those who hurt you.  

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

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This Week’s Reading Plan and Blog/Podcast:

• YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan:
  “New Life New Way – Anger” (5 Days)

• Blog and Podcast: “Praying Your Anger and Pain”