Psalm 137
1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps. 3For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land? 5If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill. 6Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy. 7Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!” 8Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us. 9Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.
Introduction
Psalms 137
There are divers psalms which are thought to have been penned in the latter days of the Jewish church, when prophecy was near expiring and the canon of the Old Testament ready to be closed up, but none of them appears so plainly to be of a late date as this, which was penned when the people of God were captives in Babylon, and there insulted over by these proud oppressors; probably it was towards the latter end of their captivity; for now they saw the destruction of Babylon hastening on apace (Psa 137:8), which would be their discharge. It is a mournful psalm, a lamentation; and the Septuagint makes it one of the lamentations of Jeremiah, naming him for the author of it. Here I. The melancholy captives cannot enjoy themselves (Psa 137:1, Psa 137:2). II. They cannot humour their proud oppressors (Psa 137:3, Psa 137:4). III. They cannot forget Jerusalem (Psa 137:5, Psa 137:6). IV. They cannot forgive Edom and Babylon (Psa 137:7-9). In singing this psalm we must be much affected with the concernments of the church, especially that part of it that is in affliction, laying the sorrows of God's people near our hearts, comforting ourselves in the prospect of the deliverance of the church and the ruin of its enemies, in due time, but carefully avoiding all personal animosities, and not mixing the leaven of malice with our sacrifices.
Cross-references: Ps 137:8 · Ps 137:1 · Ps 137:2 · Ps 137:3 · Ps 137:4 · Ps 137:5 · Ps 137:6 · Ps 137:7