Tag: Lament

The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for Psalm 137 as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). The reading is not assigned for Septuagesima, but the seventy days of Lent recall the seventy years spent mourning in Babylonian Captivity. Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

I. A lament of the Israelite people over the mockery of the Babylonians. (v. 1–6)

II. A prayer to God for help against the Edomites. (v. 7)

III. A righteous curse against the kingdom of Babylon. (v. 8–9)

Annotated Text

1. By the waters of Babylon (Hiddekel or Tigris—Genesis 2:14, Daniel 10:4; Euphrates or Phrat, Genesis 15:18, Jeremiah 2:18; Ulai, Daniel 8:2; Chebar, Ezekiel 3:15; Sud, Baruch 1:4; and others) we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion (we were in our good estate in the land of Israel, especially the beautiful Divine Service in the temple at Jerusalem, which alas, is no more).

2. Our harps (and other musical instruments, which we Levites were accustomed to using in the carrying out of Divine Service,¹ and which we had taken with us into our misery as a memorial) we hung upon the willows, which were there (which grew by the waters in the land of Babylon;² we could not use such stringed instruments from great melancholy).

(Isaiah 24:8; Ezekiel 26:13)

¹ * With other of our brothers, for music was very common among the Israelites throughout, according to David’s example when he still herded the sheep.

² * Here, however, they are set against the fruitful trees in the land of Israel.

3. For the same people who held us captive called us to sing and to be joyful¹ in the midst of our howling, “Dear friend (they said mockingly), sing us a song from Zion!” (They wanted to compel us to this with force, to take their little courage out on us; but we were by no means willing to consent to them, for…)

¹ Hebrew: “And those who had robbed us (indeed, who had made our land and cities into stone houses) demanded that we should play for them a jolly little piece of music.”

4. How should we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land (where there is neither altar, nor sacrifice, nor anything else that belongs to orderly Divine Service)?

(1 Chronicles 26:7)

¹ Hebrew: “In the land of a foreign lord or god.”

5. If I forget you, * Jerusalem (If I should do something to please the idolatrous enemies that could bring about your dishonor and mockery); let my right (hand) forget (my hands must stiffen and die, so that they could never move a finger or grasp the harp).

* Jeremiah 51:50

6. My * tongue must cling to my palate (my mouth must become silent before I would sing some of our beautiful Psalms to please the idolaters and thus profane and desecrate them; it must never again go well with me) if I do not remember you, if I do not let Jerusalem (even in this great misery) be my highest joy¹ (thus, that I will in no way allow myself to be turned away from the confession of the name of God which was practiced in the temple, even in the midst of the Babylonian idol worshippers, Jeremiah 50:2, 38; 10:3, 11; Baruch 6:3, etc.; but rather, remain steadfast in it and steadily call upon God the Lord for the restoration of His city, house, and Divine Service).

* Ezekiel 3:26

¹ Hebrew: “Exalt as my highest (or greatest) joy”

7. Lord, remember the children of Edom (our unfaithful wicked neighbors, who rejoice in our misfortune and have special pleasure over it) on the day (of the punishment and destruction of the city) of Jerusalem, who then said, “Raze it! Raze it to its bottom!” (let them only  be swept away with the brooms of destruction, Isaiah 14:23, that justice comes upon them)

(Jeremiah 49:12; Lamentations 4:21–22; Isaiah 25:12ff., 35:2ff.; Obadiah 10–11ff.)

8. You * destroyed daughter of Babylon (O Babylon, Babylon, you who are now a flourishing kingdom and people, but are near to ruin, destruction, and devastation as such has been proclaimed by the prophets of the Lord, Isaiah 13:14, 21, 44, 45, 47; Jeremiah 50–51; Habakkuk 2–3), good be to the one who repays you as you have done¹ to us.

* Isaiah 13:19

¹ Hebrew: “repaid” (indeed according to our sins, and as a rod of God, but with our own [human] wrath mixed in, Habakkuk 3:15)

9. Good to the one who (among other horrible anxieties and humiliations) * takes your young children,¹ and dashes them on the rocks (against the rock crags; good to those who carry out thus, for they will certainly accomplish it by God’s righteous judgment and bring it forth successfully, Jeremiah 50:25, 34; 51:30; as powerful and secure you are even now and as you are considered insurmountable, Jeremiah 51:53).²

* Isaiah 13:16; Revelation 2:23

¹ Hebrew: “grasps or seizes with both hands” (Judges 16:3)

² † That this Psalm was first made after the captivity agrees better with the prophetic Scriptures and the unbelief of the readers, who, if it had been made known to them beforehand, would not have been so greatly surprised at the threatened [Babylonian] deportation.

Useful Applications

I. DOCTRINE: That persecuted and oppressed people, in their great misery, beyond all of this must experience all kinds of mockery from spiteful enemies. (v. 1–3) CORRECTION: That one ought to remain steadfast at the time of persecution and ought not let go of the fear of God. (v. 4–6) II. WARNING: Against devilish joy over the misfortune of others, especially of the Church. (v. 7) III. DOCTRINE: That tyrannical persecutors in the Church will finally be repaid like for like [by the Lord]. (v. 8) DOCTRINE: That often, according to God’s hidden judgment, young children also must also take part in the punishment of a land. (v. 9)