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Psalms 137:1-4

Matthew Henry on Psalms 137:1-4

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

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.

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The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9Psalms 137:1-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION "THE most direct and striking reminiscence of the Babylonish exile in the whole Psalter" (Professor Alexander). The psalm divides into two parts. First, we are given a picture of the unhappy condition of the…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1Psalms 137:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryBy the rivers of Babylon The Euphrates and the canals derived from it, which were many, and filled with running, not stagnant, water. These would present themselves to the exiles as "rivers." There we sat down, yea, we…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9Psalms 137:1-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryIncongruity in religion. The psalm brings before us in very vivid color— I. THE DARK SHADOW CAST BY A GREAT GOOD. Patriotism is an excellent thing, and we are all of us glad and thankful to belong to a land of light and…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9Psalms 137:1-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryFruits 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 sadde…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1Psalms 137:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe tears of memory. "Yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." The rivers of Babylon and the district were the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the branch streams of those rivers. The writer of the psalm is not in Babylon, but…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-6Psalms 137:1-6 · The Pulpit CommentaryBy the rivers of Babylon, etc. "The psalm expresses the feelings of an exile who has but just returned from the land of his captivity." I. THE LOSS OF LIBERTY TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL. 1. Brings after it the most desponde…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-6By the rivers of Babylon, etc. "The psalm expresses the feelings of an exile who has but just returned from the land of his captivity." I. THE LOSS OF LIBERTY TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL. 1. Brings after it the most desponde…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9EXPOSITION "THE most direct and striking reminiscence of the Babylonish exile in the whole Psalter" (Professor Alexander). The psalm divides into two parts. First, we are given a picture of the unhappy condition of the…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1By the rivers of Babylon The Euphrates and the canals derived from it, which were many, and filled with running, not stagnant, water. These would present themselves to the exiles as "rivers." There we sat down, yea, we…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9Incongruity in religion. The psalm brings before us in very vivid color— I. THE DARK SHADOW CAST BY A GREAT GOOD. Patriotism is an excellent thing, and we are all of us glad and thankful to belong to a land of light and…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1-9Fruits 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 sadde…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:1The tears of memory. "Yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." The rivers of Babylon and the district were the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the branch streams of those rivers. The writer of the psalm is not in Babylon, but…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. The superfluous "harps" were "hung" up upon the trees that grew by the watercourses. These are called "willows," or, according to some, "poplars," but were prob…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 137:2Willow-types. It is remarked that there are now no willows in Babylon. The name ereb is also applied to the tamarisk and poplar. But the drooping form of the willow branches and leaves is specially suggestive of tears.…Joseph S. Exell and contributors