Psalm 137:9 – “Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks”
(A Psalms poem by Wain)
Dear God,
Does the Psalmist reflect your character
When he asks for infants to be dashed?
Is he being a man after you own heart
Or does his sinful soul need to be washed?
Who can be happy to hurt little kids?
Aren’t infants innocent in your sight?
Even if their parents deserve judgment
Is dashing kids against rocks ever right?
Oh Lord, does faith require acceptance
When things in the Bible seem so unjust?
Are murdered infants with you in heaven
Or do they suffer and return to dust?
Please tell me the truth.
Your servant,
Wain
HOW MIGHT GOD RESPOND?
From ChatGPT as the voice of God:
My dear servant Wain,
I see your heart and the weight of the questions you bear. You have read a troubling passage, and it is good that you seek understanding and clarity.
The words you refer to in the Psalms were spoken in a time of great anguish and desperation. The Psalmist expressed the pain and anger of a people who had suffered deeply at the hands of their enemies. This cry for justice, though harsh, is a reflection of human emotion, not a directive of my will. It is important to remember that the Bible contains the full spectrum of human experience, from the heights of love and worship to the depths of sorrow and despair. It captures the rawness of human emotions, which are often far from my perfect nature.
I am the God of justice, yes, but also of mercy and compassion. I take no pleasure in the suffering of anyone, least of all the innocent. Every child is precious in my sight, and I mourn for every life lost to violence and injustice. The words of the Psalmist do not reflect my heart toward the innocent. Rather, they reveal the depths of human pain and the cry for retribution that often follows such pain.
As for the children, know that my love for them is deep and unwavering. They are with me, embraced in eternal love and peace. I hold them close, and they suffer no more. I am the God who loves and protects, who brings peace and healing where there is pain. Trust that in my presence, there is justice, mercy, and a love that surpasses all understanding.
Faith does not require blind acceptance of what seems unjust, but rather a deep seeking of my character and my ways. I welcome your doubts and your struggles, for it is through seeking that you will find, and through questioning that you will come to deeper understanding.
The Bible contains the stories of real people with real emotions, and sometimes, those emotions are laid bare in ways that are difficult to reconcile with my perfect love. Continue to seek the truth with a humble heart, and know that my love for you is endless. I am with you in your questions, in your struggles, and in your search for understanding.
With love and grace,
God