Psalms 137

Psalms 137:1-6

This psalm was penned in the pretext of the Babylonish captivity, or perhaps during its continuance. We have, 1. The melancholy state of the captivity, ver. 1, 2. 2. The taunts of their oppression, ver. 3, 4. 3. Their tender remembrance of Jerusalem, ver. 5, 6. 4. Their prayer and prophetic declaration concerning the doom of Edom and Babylon, ver. 7-9.

1. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2. We hanged our harps upon the willows, in the midst thereof. 3. For there they that carried us away captive, required of us a song; and they that I waited us, required of us mirth, saying, sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land? 5. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

This psalm is the composition of a mournful music, and whilst we maintain the term, scarce can the forepathetic heart forbear to mangle her tears with those of the afflicted captives. We have,

1. Their mournful condition. By the waters of Babylon, sat from the gates of Zion, under a heavy yoke, employed in servile labours near these streams, or stealing thither sadly to music on their wretched state, we set down, yea we wept, indulging their melancholy reflections, and swelling the torrent with their tears, when we remembered thee, O Zion; Zion, Zion, aside before their eyes, her palaces in smoky ruins lay, her temple in

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heaps, her altars overturned, her sacrifices ceased, and fallen silence reigned in the once, thronged gates: such deloans pierced their hearts with anguish, whilst deep reflections on their sins, the cause of all, called forth Bill bitterer forrows, their instruments of music on willows hang neglected by, their hearts untuned, their harps unstrung, and all their songs turned into fights and groans.

2. Their oppressors insulated over them; not content with plundering their substance, and enslaving their perisma; they required songs from their heavy hearts, and confining at the songs of Zion, would turn these sacred services into profane mirth. Note, (1.) It is doubly good to relish the afflicted. (2.) The songs of Zion have often been the butt of scoffers wit; but God is not mocked, he is jealous and avengeth.

3. Their reply. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land. These sacred songs ill-suited the company of the people; nor ought these holy things to be given to dogs; better exasperate their masters by a refusal, than anger their God by sinful compliance.

4. Their rooted affection to Jerusalem. Deep engraven on their hearts, not time, nor distance, banished the loved image from their thoughts; they limped to be there, they hoped the time was near, and ceaseless thitherward directed their faces and their prayers; they preferred it to their chief joy; all personal prosperity and comfort was nothing to near or dear to them as the interest of Zion: much rather therefore did they wish to forget their faith in music, or that their wishes and might shrink, and their tongue cleave to the roof of their mouth, than forget the city of their solemnities, cease to remember her with honour and delight, or dare by such complacency to entertain the sons of Babylon, or serve their gods, with Zion’s sacred music. Note, (1.) The interests of Christ’s church and kingdom will be ever dearer to his people than their own. (2.) When the path of duty is clear, however dangerous, we are called to steadfast adherence to it; better lose our limbs or life than lose our souls.

5. Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rake it, rake it, rove to the foundation thereof. 8. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall be he that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 9. Happy shall be he that taketh and daffeth thy little ones against the stones.

Psalms 137:7-9

Not revenge, but zeal for God’s glory dictates these desires.

1. Edom’s malice in the day of Jerusalem’s affliction was cruel; they sharpened the Chaldeans fury, and wished them to rake the city and temple to its foundations: for this, a complaint is lodged against them with that God, who is the avenger of his people’s wrongs, and they shall not go unpunished. The perplexions of God’s people will allotely be reckoned with, and every hard speech against them be remembered in the day of recompense.

2. The doom of Babylon is read. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed, such is the divine decree, and nothing can prevent its execution: happy shall be he that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us, as Cyrus did, when executing the counsels of God, he entered that devoted city, and retaliated on them the cruelty they had shewn their captives. Happy shall be he that taketh and daffeth thy little ones against the stones; and as Babylon thus fell of old, Babylon mythical shall meet the same destruction from the righteous judgment of God, and all anti-christian oppressors of God’s church and people sink as a millstone cast into the sea, and never rise up again.