Psalms 137
PATthose that arc injured, and to punish their insolent oppressors. This is a mournful Song, composed by some of the captive Levites in Babylon; when he reflected upon their sad parting with their dear country, and the scorn wherewith their insulting enemies treated them in that strange land. Which he foresaw God would severely punish, by the hand of some other cruel people; who should shew them as little mercy as they had shewed the Israelites. The Vulgar Latin ascribes this Psalm to Jeremiah: upon which inscription, Thcodoret (who found it also in somo Greek copies in his time) passes this censure; That the bold author of it wanted wit, as the inscription itself openly proclaims: for Jeremiah was not carried captivo into Babylon; but, when he had stayed some time in Ju-. dea, was compelled by the disobedient Jews to go down with them into Egypti Yet there are those who, to excuse this, would have us think that Jeremiah sent this Psalm to the captives in Babylon’: and that it is called A Psalm of David (for so it is in the Vulgar Latin also), because made after the examplo of his Psalms: as Virgil said he sung Ascrcenum carmen among the Romans; when he made his Georgics in imitation of Hesiod. In the Paraphrase of the first verse I have followed a conjecture of St. Chrysostom’s, that the captives were not suffered (at their first coming thither) to dwell within any of their towns or cities; but were dispersed all along several rivers of the country; where they built tabernacles, or cottages, for themselves: and, perhaps, were forced to drain those moist places to make them wholesome. Vcr. 1. JOY tiie rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, ive tvept, when we remembered Zion.] When we were transported from our own country into the land of Babylon, and had the sides of Euphrates, and several of its rivers, (Ezek. i. 1. Baruch. i. 4.) assigned for our habitation, there we sat down in a sorrowful posture; and could not refrain from tears, when we called to mind the happy days which we enjoyed in the holy hill of Zion;
Psalms 137:2
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. We brought our harps along with us, wherewith we were wont to praise the Lord: (1 Chron. xv. 16.) but us our fruitful vines and fig-trees, under which we formerly sat, were turned into barren willows and osiers; so all our mirth and joy were turned into such heaviness and sorrow of heart, that we let all our instruments of music hang neglected upon the boughs of those doleful trees.
Psalms 137:3
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that toasted %is, required of us mirth, saying, Si?ig us one of the soiigs of Zion. For when our new masters, who had carried us away captive, they that had laid Jerusalem on heaps, and had power to’do what they pleased with us, required us (between jest and earnest) to entertain them with our masic; and to let them hear one of those songs, which were wont to be sung in the temple:
Psalms 137:4
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?. Neither fear nor favour could extort this service from our Levites, but they resolutely answered; As those songs were not made for pastime and sport, biit in honour of the great Lord of the world; so, how can you imagine that miserable slaves are disposed to sing? and to sing those songs, in the land where we are exiles, which recount the mercies of God unto us, in our once most flourishing counlry?
Psalms 137:5
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. No (said I then within myself), if I forget thy desolations, O Jerusalem (though never so far removed from thec), so as to gratify their desires, by profaning thy music and thy songs; then let my right hand be benumbed, or quite lose its skill of touching the harp any more. Ver. G. JfJ do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.] Let me be struck dumb, and never be able to move my tongue; if I be not so mindful of thee, as never to s’ng again; till I see Jerusalem, and her holy solemnities restored. Vcr. 7. Remember, O Eord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; rvhosaid, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof] Which joyful day I hope will come; when thou, O Lord, wilt call our enemies to an account: and first of all, reckon with the Edomitcs, (Jer. xlix. 10. Ezek. xxv. 12.). who, instead of. pitying Jerusalem, as becamo kind neighbours and relations; were glad to see the day of its desolations; and encouraged our destroyers with their acclamations, saying; Lay it flat, lay it even with the ground upon which it stands.
Psalms 137:8
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; 1 h a PPy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thoxt hast served its. And then shall your turns come, O ye Babylonians; who have laid waste so many nations, but shall one day bo made desolate yourselves: (Isa. xiii. 19, &c.) and may that prince and people prosper and be happy, (Jer. 1. 9. 41.) who shall pay you in your kind; and use you as barbhrously as you used us, (li. 24. 35. 49.)
Psalms 137:9
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy Uttl0 ones against the stones. He shall be praised and thought to have done a worthy work, who shall snatch your sucking children from their mothers’ breaits; and have no more mercy on them, than upon the whelps of wolves, or such-like creatures; but shall dash out their brains. against the walls of your houses, or stones in the street, (Isa. xiii. 16.) that there may be no remains of such a cruel generation, (Jer. li. C2.)
And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let us not forget how after that stroke ho brought our forefathers out of the cruel bondage, wherein Ihoy had long held them, (Exod.xii. 41, 42.) but thankfully acknowledge that wonderful deliverance: for it is an argument why wo should never distrust his kindness, in the sorest straits that can befal us. - 1
With a stroiig hand 9 and with a stretched-out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. His power, let us remember, is irresistible; which first by lesser, then by greater signs and wonders, delivered us out of their hands, (Exod. vi. 5, G. vii. viii. &c.) to praise and magnify him, whoso, kindness is stupendously great, and will never cease to succour those who depend upon him.
To him which divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let us therefore give thanks to him; who, when our forefathers utterly despaired of safety, (Exod. xiv. 10, 11.) commanded the Red Sea to retire, and leave a broad way for them to pass, (ver. 21.) which plainly proves that his kindness is inexhaustible, and always ready to help us in the most dreadfuTdangers;
And make Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever. For he led them safely through the very midst of the sea, (which rose up like a wall on either hand of them, Exod. xiv. 22.) and will by his kindness eternally secure all those that piously confide in him:
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. But throw those that oppose him headlong into destruction, as he did Pharaoh and his host, in the very same place where Israel was preserved: (Exod. xiv. 27, &c.) for his kindness loves to complete his favours, and perfect what he hath begun for his people.
To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. And accordingly, when he had thus delivered them, he led his people by the direction of a glorious cloud, through an untrodden desert; and there (with our thankful praises let it be remembered) made* a miraculous provision for them, (Exod. xvi.) For his endless kindness, wheresoever they went, still with new benefits pursued them.
To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. When potent kings opposed their passage to the promised land, he utterly discomfited them (to his praise be it thankfully acknowledged): for his kindness was not stopped by difficulties, but ever overcame them.
And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. Though they were kings famous for their prowess; yet, such was his for-evcMo-bc-praised kindness towards us; he gave us as easy and as absolute a victory over them, a3 he had done before over Pharaoh and his host, * -i
Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever. Over Sihon, king of that fierce nation of the Amorites, who wore thought invinciblo*: (Amosii. 9.) for his kindness was mightier than they, and gave us this as an earnest of future conquests over our enemios;
And Og the king ofBashan: for his mercy endureth for ever. Over that huge tyrant Og the king ofBashan: (Dcut. iii. 11.) for his kinuness added that, as a new pledge of what he intended to do for us, when we came into Canaan.
And gave their land for a heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever. And gave both their countries to be held of him, as a perpetual inheritance: for his kindness doth not decay (nor loves to revoke his favours), but continues to the latest posterity.
Even a heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. An inheritance they were, which he settled upon us, the children of Israel, as long as we continue his faithful servants: for his kindness hath no end; but delights to perpetuate his mercies to those who are worthy of them.
Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever.~. Nay, when for our sins we were severely afflicted, and in danger to be thrown out of this good land into which at last he brought us; (Judg. ii. iii. iv. &c.) he was pleased graciously to relieve us: for his kindness pardoned our ingratitude, and was as forward as ever to bestow fresh benefits upon us.
And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. And rescued us many a time, when we cried unto him, from the power of those that tyrannized over us r for his kindness was not spent by the frequent deliverances it had given us; but still granted new matter for our thanksgivings to him.
Who giveth fdod to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. Whose bounty is not confined to us alone, but supplies the wants of all mankind, yea, of all living creatures: for his kindness hath no bounds; nor will ever cease to make a plentiful provision for them.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. O raise your hearts to give him thanks with the highest praises; whose power extends itself beyond thisearth, even unto the highest heavens: for his kindness is so unwearied, that we may hope from thenco to be ever receiving more and more his blessings.