M-W-F Bible study: Psalm 137

Difficult times will befall us all. But we can take our comfort in the promise of eternity with our Lord. I know I share this with you, keeping myself in God's Word sustains me when all I can think is "woe is me".


Psalm 137

1Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem.2We put away our lyres, hanging them on the branches of the willow trees.3For there our captors demanded a song of us. Our tormentors requested a joyful hymn: "Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!"4But how can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?5If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill upon the harp.6May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don't make Jerusalem my highest joy.7O LORD, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. "Destroy it!" they yelled. "Level it to the ground!"8O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.9Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christnotes.org)

"Chapter Contents

The Jews bewail their captivity. (1-4) Their affection for Jerusalem. (5-9)

Commentary on Psalm 137:1-4

Their enemies had carried the Jews captive from their own land. To complete their woes, they insulted over them; they required of them mirth and a song. This was very barbarous; also profane, for no songs would serve but the songs of Zion. Scoffers are not to be compiled with. They do not say, How shall we sing, when we are so much in sorrow? but, It is the Lord's song, therefore we dare not sing it among idolaters.

Commentary on Psalm 137:5-9

What we love, we love to think of. Those that rejoice in God, for his sake make Jerusalem their joy. They stedfastly resolved to keep up this affection. When suffering, we should recollect with godly sorrow our forfeited mercies, and our sins by which we lost them. If temporal advantages ever render a profession, the worst calamity has befallen him. Far be it from us to avenge ourselves; we will leave it to Him who has said, Vengeance is mine. Those that are glad at calamities, especially at the calamities of Jerusalem, shall not go unpunished. We cannot pray for promised success to the church of God without looking to, though we do not utter a prayer for, the ruin of her enemies. But let us call to mind to whose grace and finished salvation alone it is, that we have any hopes of being brought home to the heavenly Jerusalem."