This Psalm was written while Judah was in Babylonian captivity. Babylon conquered Judea in 587 BC destroying Jerusalem and the Temple where the Jews worshiped God. The Jews, the people of Judah, were in great despair. Their captors were mocking them and demanding that the Jews play their songs of worship.
The Psalmist writes, “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, and our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill.”
The Jews were in great distress. However, they did adapt to their captivity. They preserved their religion and continue to worship God. They would maintain their identity as Jews.
Judah did return to the land and rebuilt Jerusalem. However, the Romans eventually removed them in 70 A.D. The Jews were scattered throughout the world. Incredibly, they still retain their identity as Jews. They still worship God in their synagogues.
Israel was reestablished as a state in 1948. And now, Jews are returning to Israel from around the world. The Bible says that one day, Jesus will return to the Earth. When he returns, He will become King of Israel. Eventually, Jesus will become King of the entire world. What a glorious future we have.
