Psalms 137

Psalms 137:1-9

Loyalty in Adversity Psalms 137:1-9 It seems as if the exiles had withdrawn from the city, with its distractions, to some natural retreat beside the Euphrates. They had brought their harps with them, but had not the heart to touch their chords. Songs were choked by sobs. Suddenly a band of insolent revelers broke in on the scene, demanding one of those Temple songs for which Hebrew minstrelsy was famed. But the Lord’ s song was possible only in the Lord’ s house. To be separated from the Temple seemed to the Jews like separation from God. When we have been led captive by our sins and have lost the sense of God’ s presence, we, too, lose the spring of holy joy. Let us make not Jerusalem, but the glory and interests of Christ’ s kingdom, our chief joy. The closing imprecation on Edom reminds one of Jer 49:7-22; Lamentations 4:2; Lamentations 4:22; Ezekiel 25:12-14. We can understand it, but we must remember that we belong to another covenant. See Luke 9:54, r.v., margin; Romans 12:20.

By the rivers of Babylon! One of the most touching of the Psalms. It reminds us of the emotions excited in an army on a distant march by hearing the strains of a home song. It was evidently composed by a returned exile. But it is also clear that the destruction of Babylon herself was imminent (Psalms 137:8). We are thus led to the conquest of Babylon by Darius (Daniel 5:31), whereby its entire destruction, as foretold in prophecy, was brought within a measureable range. The Psalm falls into three strophes, each consisting of three verses.

Psalms 137:1. By the rivers of Babylon The streams of Babylon had probably a special fascination for the exiles. First, because they were removed from the busy rush of the city and thus afforded opportunity for reflection. Secondly, because they were an image and symbol of their floods of tears (Lamentations 2:18; Lamentations 3:48). Daniel loved and sought them (Daniel 8:2; Daniel 10:4).

Psalms 137:2. Our harps upon the willows This touching metaphor has passed into all languages as an expression of extreme grief. Of what use is the harp when the heart is nigh to breaking?

Psalms 137:3. They required of us a song This demand may have originated from the far-famed power of Hebrew Psalmody. Across the desert the news had come of the sweetness of the temple minstrelsy. Or, it may be that their captors were anxious that the Israelites should reconcile themselves to their lot and feel at home in their banishment. But in any case the treatment by those captors had made compliance with their demand impossible.

Psalms 137:4. How shall we sing in a strange land? “The Lord’s song” is only possible in the Lord’s house, where his presence is manifested and felt. To be separated from Zion was to be separated from God. To lose God was to lose all. When we have lost the sense of God’s presence, having been led captive by our sins, we too are sure to lose our joy, peace and blessedness. The land of the stranger and the song of the Lord can never be found together.

Psalms 137:5-6. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem The imprecation here made is on the hand and tongue; on the one if it should be misemployed in playing and on the other in singing. Would that we were constantly able to apply these words to our Lord Jesus! Why do we remember all things and people beside and forget Him? Surely we court failure in every other direction, so long as we do not make Him the crown and head of our chief joy.

Psalms 137:7. The children of Edom Edom took malicious pleasure in the destruction of Jerusalem. The punishment of Edom is often referred to (Jeremiah 49:7-22; Lamentations 4:21-22; Ezekiel 25:12-14).

Psalms 137:8-9. O daughter of Babylon! Calvin says that the Psalmist acts here as the Divine herald of coming judgment, but there seems a flavor of something more personal and vindictive in these terrible words. We can understand the spirit which breathes through them, but it is rather that of the Old Dispensation than of the New (Matthew 5:43-48).