Psalms, 136
1. Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we remembered Sion:
1. Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we remembered Sion:
Psalm 136 is a song of praise that celebrates the greatness and goodness of God through the centuries, from the creation of the world to the liberation of the people of Israel from Egypt. The main themes are God's faithfulness, their creative power and their saving intervention in the history of their people. Below are five verses related to these themes:
Genesis 1:1-2: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was shapeless and empty; there was darkness over the face of the abyss, and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters." This verse speaks of the creative power of God, which is mentioned several times in Psalm 136, especially in the verses that speak of the creation of heaven and earth, luminaries and animals.
Deuteronomy 7:9: "Thou shalt know that the Lord thy God is God, the faithful God, who keeps the covenant and mercy to a thousand generations to those who love him and keep his commandments." This verse highlights God's faithfulness, which is a central theme in Psalm 136 and is repeatedly mentioned in the verses that claim that their love lasts forever.
Psalm 135:6: "Everything the Lord desires, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all abyss." This verse emphasizes God's sovereignty over all things, including the elements of nature and the cosmic powers, a theme that is also addressed in Psalm 136 in the verses that speak of divine intervention in the miracles of Exodus.
Isaiah 43:2: "When passing through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers, they will not submerge you; when you walk through fire, you will not burn you, nor the flame will burn in you." This verse speaks of divine presence and protection, which are themes present in Psalm 136, especially in the verses that describe the liberation of the people of Israel from Egypt and divine driving through the desert.
Jeremiah 32:17: "Ah! Lord God, behold, you have done the heaven and the earth with your great power and your arm extended. Nothing is too difficult for you." This verse reinforces the theme of the power of God, which is exalted in Psalm 136 in the verses that speak of his strong hand and his extended arm to act in favor of his people.
“Há alegrias tão sublimes e dores tão profundas que não se consegue exprimir com palavras. O silêncio é o último recurso da alma, quando ela está inefavelmente feliz ou extremamente oprimida!” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
