PSALM 137 THE ARGUMENT The penman of this Psalm is uncertain; the occasion of it was unquestionably the consideration of the Babylonish captivity; and it seems to have been composed either during the time of that captivity, or presently after their deliverance out of it. The sad complaint of the Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
These are, not without great probability, supposed to be the words of some holy Levites, who had been accustomed to music, both vocal and instrumental, in the service of the temple. _Harps_ are here put by a synecdoche for all instruments of music. It is further to be observed, that although the har... [ Continue Reading ]
Such songs as you used to sing in the temple at Zion; which they required either out of curiosity, or to delight their ears, or rather by way of scoffing and insultation over them, and their temple and religion.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD'S SONG; those songs which were appointed by God, and to be sung only to his honour and in his service. _In a strange land_; when we are banished from our own temple and land, and amongst those who are strangers and enemies to God and to his worship. So we should prostitute and profane God's... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I FORGET THEE; if I do not retain a deep and sorrowful sense of thy ruin and misery, or if I indulge myself in mirth and jollity, as if I had forgotten thee. RIGHT HAND; the chief instrument of playing upon musical instruments and of other actions. FORGET HER CUNNING, i.e. lose its skill of playi... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THEE WITH AFFECTION AND SYMPATHY, so as to damp my joys. CLEAVE TO THE ROOF OF MY MOUTH; be made uncapable of singing, or speaking, or moving, as it is in some diseases. Compare JOB 29:10 PSALMS 22:15. If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy; if I do not value and desire Jerusalem's pr... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER, O LORD, so as to punish them, THE CHILDREN OF EDOM, our constant and inveterate enemies, who had no regard either to consanguinity or humanity. IN THE DAY; in the time of its calamity or destruction, which is oft called a day, as JOB 18:20 PSALMS 37:13 EZEKIEL 30:9 HOSEA 1:11 OB 12. WHO SA... [ Continue Reading ]
DAUGHTER OF BABYLON; by which he understands the city and empire of Babylon, and the people thereof. WHO ART TO BE DESTROYED; who art by God's righteous and irrevocable sentence devoted to certain destruction. HAPPY SHALL HE BE; as being God's instrument to vindicate his honour, and execute his just... [ Continue Reading ]
As thou didst use our little ones. So this was but a just retaliation foretold here, as also ISAIAH 13:6.... [ Continue Reading ]