7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did
on the day Jerusalem fell.
“Tear it down,” they cried,
“tear it down to its foundations!”
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy is the one who repays you
according to what you have done to us.
9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks. Psalm 137:7-9

What the psalmist expresses here is “raw emotion.” It’s probably similar to many of our reactions after we found out who was behind the 9-11 attacks on America.

We wanted justice.

We wanted vengeance.

We were out for blood.

Whether we were blaming the politicians who could have prevented the attacks or the attackers themselves, the emotions we had towards them was as raw as it gets. There was no “sugar-coating” what we were feeling.

That kind of emotion as a prayer is probably therapeutic. Acting on it is over the top, but just expressing emotion to God helps to relieve stress and pain. It’s certainly not a “prescriptive” prayer (i.e., this is what God will do) but a description of emotions.

So, the next time you want to lash out at someone who’s wronged or maligned you, express everything to God. He knows about it anyhow, and it’s just one more way for Him to get us to commune with Him.