Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, 4 [i.e. 5] (cont.) · Psalm 137
PSAL. CXXXVII.
AT the compoſure of this Pſalm, the Jewes were in captivity at Babylon, under the heavy yoke of the Aſsyrian Tyrant, far from their own Countrey, baniſhed from the Temple of God, deprived of all publick Exerciſes of Religion, ſcoffed and ſcorned by the pride and inſultation of an enemy, and now they begin to complain and pray; remember what they were, and what they are; what they enjoyed, and what they want; that at Jeruſalem they could ſing ſongs of Zion, but now at the Rivers of Babylon, they muſt ſit down, and hang up their Harps.
The Pſalm hath two parts.
1. A complaint of Iſrael, becauſe of the inſultation of the Babylonians, in which they deplore their ſad condition, remember the pleaſures of Jeruſalem, and the Religion of the Temple, and long to be there, from ver. 1. to 7.
2. An imprecation, for they pray for Divine vengeance to deſcend upon their Perſecutors, ver. 7.8, 9.Iſraels complaint in their captivity.
1. Their complaint ariſeth from the ſenſe of their captivity, which is aggravated:The firſt part.
1. From the place, Babylon; By the waters of Babylon, 1From the place.a place far from their own Countrey, where they ſerved a cruel and barbarous people; a people that were Aliens from the Covenant God made with Abraham, Ver. 1 and ſcorners of their Religion, that had waſted their City, conſumed with fire, defiled, robbed their Temple; by them they were diſpoſed to the Banks of the Rivers, where in their fields they were forced to baſe and ſervile works.
2. From the continuance of their captivity and miſery: There we ſate down, 2From the continuance and miſery.took up the ſeats they alotted us, and durſt not remove for ſeventy years, expoſed to wind and weather, and injuries of wild Beaſts.
3. From the effect it produced in them, tears, mourning; yea, 3The effect, tears.we wept, ſo we ſpent our time; but our enemies cruelty was ſuch, that our tears wrought not any compaſſion on their hard hearts.
4. From the cauſe that drew theſe tears from them; 4The cauſe, the remembrance of Zion.not ſo much their preſent calamities, as the remembrance of what they enjoyed before; but now were deprived of the Religion and Service of their God. We wept, when we remembred thee, O Zion. Toties, quoties, ſo often as they remembred the Temple, the Feaſts, the Sacrifices, the Songs, the Hymns they ſung to God in Zion, ſo often they ſate and wept.
5. From the intenſiveneſs of their grief; ſo great it was, 5Their grief intenſive.that they laid aſide whatever ſhould provoke mirth; they had more mind to weep, than ſing; their Harps were unſtrung, Ver. 2 and their Inſtruments of Muſick laid aſide: As for our Harps, we hang'd them upon the Willows in the midſt thereof: They now had no uſe of them, for their ſoul within them refuſed to be comforted.
2. Now that which alſo increaſed their grief, was the foreign, The inſultation of the Babylonians.the joy of the enemy at this their grief, and the ſcoff and ſcorn they put upon them, in an inſulting manner they to us in our greateſt ſorrow.
1. There, in a ſtrange land, in the land of our captivity.
2. They, that carried us away captive, they that waſted us, they did it. Ver. 3
3. They required of us a ſong, they required of us mirth, ſaying,
4. O thou Jew, our Captive, our Slave, Come now, ſing us one of the Songs of Zion. O they are ſweet ſongs, your God will be pleaſed with them, they, we know, will eaſe your grief, Come now,The Jewes anſwer to the Babylonians inſulting requeſt
3. To this Sarcaſm of the inſulting Babylonian, the captive Jew returns a double anſwer.
1. A… impoſſibili, This was a thing that could not be done, might not be done. Ver. 4 How ſhall we ſing the Lords Song in a ſtrange land? The land is ſtrange, 1Impoſſible for them to ſing.the people Aliens, the Song the Lords, deſtined to his honour, to his ſervice, and therefore how can we ſing it, without giving offence to our God, and to you? Holy Hymns and Pſalms were not compoſed to pleaſe carnal ears.
2. 2They are conſtant in their profeſſion of ReligionNext they anſwer by a proteſtation of their hope and conſtancy in Religion, and devote and accurſe themſelves, if they do not continue in it.
1. Ver. 5 If I forget thee, O Jeruſalem; forget the Feaſts I kept there, the worſhip I uſed to God, there, which would be done, if I ſhould ſing the Lords Song in a ſtrange land, as you deſire: No, Jeruſalem is the place we ought to worſhip: Then let my right hand forget her cunning; let my right hand wither, dry up, and never touch Harp more.
2. Ver. 6 If I do not remember thee; if I do not make mention of thee Jeruſalem, And if not, devote themſelves to a curſe.and prefer thee; make thee the beginning, middle, end of my mirth, then let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, never let me ſpeak more, or have any uſe of that excellent Organ of Gods glory: Let me never have uſe of hand or tongue, if I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chief joy: Which I could not do, ſhould I, to pleaſe you, ſing the Songs of Zion; for by that I ſhould do what were unworthy of my Religion, diſhonour my God, Their faith, that God will deliver them.ſcandalize his people, ſatisfie and confirm you in your profaneneſs and impiety: But I know the day will come, when exhilarb caput, I ſhall lift up my head; and when that day comes, I will ſing one of the Songs of Zion; for it will be a merry day.
2. The ſecond part.This is the ſenſe of the firſt part of this Pſalm; the other is an imprecation againſt Edom and Babylon both enemies and perſecutors of Gods people: The Babylonians carrive them away captive, An imprecation.and overturned Jeruſalem; and the Edomites did perſecute his brother with the Sword, and caſt off all pity; read Amos 1.11. Obadiah, from ver. 10. to 17. Ezek. 35.5. Againſt both the Prophet prayes.
1. 1Againſt Edom.Againſt Edom.
1. Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom, in the day of Jeruſalem: Remember how they carried themſelves toward thy people on that day, when thy anger did ſmoke againſt them, Ver. 7 and the walls of Jeruſalem was deſtroyed by the Babylonians.
2. Remember how they helped on the affliction, and encouraged our enemies, crying, Raſe it, raſe it even to the foundations; Root and Branch, down with it to the ground.
2. 2Againſt Babylon.Againſt Babylon; to her he turns his ſpeech by an Apoſtrophe, but foretels her ruine.
1. Ver. 8 O daughter of Babylon, which art to be deſtroyed. Thou ſeemeſt to thy ſelf to be now moſt happy, Bleſſeth the man that deſtroyes it, or takes the revenge.but thy ruine approaches, which ſhortly fell out by Cyrus and the Medes, whom he bleſſeth.
1. Bleſsed ſhall he be, that rewardeth thee, as thou haſt rewarded us. foreign.
2. Ver. 9 Bleſſed ſhall he be, that takes and daſheth thy little ones againſt the ſtones.
The Prayer collected out of the One hundred and thirty ſeventh Pſalm.
O God, to whom the ſecrets of all hearts are open, Thou knoweſt it is the deſires of us thy poor ſervants to adore and praiſe thée, and with Hymns and Songs of Zion to magnifie thy holy Name: But for many years we have ſate at the waters of Babylon, we live with a ſtrange people of a divided tongue, who have baniſhed us from thy Temple, and deſtroyed thy houſes of prayer, and aboliſhed thy Service: So that hanging up our Harps, Ver. 2 and muſical Inſtruments with which we were wont with joyful hearts to appear before thée, we ſit down and wéep, and give our ſelves wholly to grief and complaints, and mourning, deploring not ſo much our own miſeries, as the devaſtigation brought upon thy Church, and the ſcorn and contempt caſt upon Religion.
They that carried us away captive, inſult over us; they that have ſpoiled and waſted us, deride us, as if they had béen aliens and ſtrangers, Ver. 3 and never any of our mothers children; they revile and blaſpheme, and géer at thy Service, and at thoſe Songs of Zion with which we were wont to praiſe thée.
But the melody of them is yet in our ears, and the efficacy of them is in our hearts: If I forget thee, O Jeruſalem; forget thy Solemnities, Ver. 5 and not remember thy Songs, then let my right hand forget her cunning, and never touch the ſtrings of Inſtrument any more; if I do not with ſighs and groans remember thée, and the pleaſure I took in thy religious and pious Devotions, then let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; yea, if I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chiefeſt joy.
Turn our captivity, O Lord, as the Rivers in the South, let not thy Church for ever be deprived of her holy and ſpiritual joy; ſuffer not the mouths of thoſe that bring glad tydings of peace, to be ſtop't; let not this lawful and ſincere Worſhip alway be laid aſide; nor the Hymns, ſung to thy praiſe and honour, for ever be baniſhed from thy houſe; remember thoſe that have done it, Edom and Babylon, take revenge on both for thy Name ſake.
Remember our brother Edom that helped on the affliction, and in the day that thou wert angry with Jeruſalem, encouraged and made ſtrong the hand of the Babylonian againſt us; when born of the ſame fleſh, and regenerated by the ſame Spirit, they ſhould have béen moved with pity; They, without mercy, haſtned our Ruine, cryed to the Rooters, Root and Branch, Raſe it, raſe it, even to the foundations.
And thou, O Babylon, which haſt done the work; as I doubt not, but as my God hath begun, and will in his good time take a condign puniſhment upon the Edomites, ſo alſo he will bring thée down. Thou art miſerable, and thou ſhalt be miſerable. Happy ſhall that King and people be, that rewardeth thee, as thou haſt ſerved us. Happy ſhall he be, that taketh and daſheth thy little ones againſt the ſtones.
O merciful God, whatever wrath and indignation is due unto us for the breach of thy Commandments, and diſhonouring thée in thy Service, remove it, O Lord, from thy people, and transfer it upon them, that with an implacable malice purſue thy people, and ſéek by all means to corrupt and waſte thine inheritance, which was purchaſed by the precious blood of our Lord and Saviour, Ieſus Chriſt.