The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Fruits of exile from God.

It was Israel's, or rather Judah's, exile from Zion and Jerusalem that this psalm commemorated; but the fruits that exile bore, and which are here told of, set forth the fruits of the yet sadder exile from God which many a soul has known.

I. THE MEMORY OF WHAT HAS BEEN LOST IS FULL OF SORROW. (Psalms 137:1.) "Yea, we sat down and wept." And if, as with God's ancient people, we through sin are banished from God, then, when we remember, we too shall weep.

II. MUSIC, MIRTH, AND SONG ARE IMPOSSIBLE. (Psalms 137:2-4.) How could Israel sing? How can we under like conditions? He who has once known, yet more if he has lived for a long time in, the joy of God's love, when he loses that, loses all joy along with it. How can he sing the Lord's song, etc. (Psalms 137:4)?

III. PASSIONATE DEVOTION AND DESIRE TOWARDS WHAT HAS BEEN LOST FILL THE SOUL. (Psalms 137:5, Psalms 137:6.) His one desire is to return back; his most fervent vows that never, never will he again forget.

IV. BURNING HATRED OF THOSE WHO HAVE WROUGHT THIS WRONG TAKES POSSESSION OF HIM. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Corinthians 7:11.) In this sense we may use language which towards earthly enemies would be contrary to the spirit of Christ.—S.C.

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