Prayer and Purpose

Psalm 137 is one of my favorite Psalms despite how dark it is. I guarantee that has largely to do with two different arrangements of it into a song, one by Boney M and one by Sinead O'Connor. Look them up if you are interested, it helps you memorize a portion of the Psalm. What follows is an exegesis I did for a hermeneutics course, I hope it blesses you and helps you wrestle with this particular Psalm.  Psalm 137 [1] 1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion. 2 Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps. 3 For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” 4 How can we sing the Lord’s song In a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill . 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, against the sons o...

Introduction Rather than withdrawing from culture, the emerging church movement (ECM) dives in headfirst. In doing so, the ECM welcomes great numbers into their churches and is more palatable to modern culture. Prominent figures in the ECM include Brian McLaren who was named to TIME’s “25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America” list, and Rob Bell who was recently a guest on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday . With this platform for reaching people, McLaren, Bell and others in the ECM could allow themselves to be used by God to reach a great multitude of people so that they might come to know Him. However, some of those in the ECM are embracing postmodern thinking, which encourages liberal theology and bibliology, leading to a low view of Scripture; the result is the loss of Jesus’ identity and His teachings. The Emerging Church Movement In the late 90s . . . Christianity in America, it really wasn’t working the way we thought it should be working, and so. . .   people . . . want...