| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| An Experience of the Captivity. |
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1 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yes, we wept,
When we remembered Zion.
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Rivers of Babylon – Defiled by the mire of worldliness and error. R497:6
Yea, we wept – Fleshly Israel, after the overturn of their kingdom. B83
Remembered Zion – God's favor to Zion in the past. R497:6
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2 Upon the willows in the midst thereof
We hanged up our harps.
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Hanged our harps – Laid aside the harps of God. R497:6
Take down your harps; flee from Babylon into full liberty of thought and expression; tune your harps and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. R497:6
Upon the willows – Weeping over the grave of truth. R497:6
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3 For there they that led us captive required of us songs,
And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,
Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
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They that carried – The Babylonian system. R497:6
Required of us mirth – Babylon would like to see Zion's captives happy in the midst of her worldliness. R497:6
Songs of Zion – That she might boast of the Lord's favor. R497:6
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4 How shall we sing Jehovah’s song
In a foreign land?
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5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget her skill.
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If I forget thee – It is pleasing to note that in the land of their captivity Israel was reclaimed from idolatry so thoroughly as never to return to it again. R1483:3
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6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,
If I remember thee not;
If I prefer not Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.
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Remember thee – The spirit of praise is cultivated by calling to mind and recounting what the Lord has done. R2031:5
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7 Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom
The day of Jerusalem;
Who said, Rase it, rase it,
Even to the foundation thereof.
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8 O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed,
Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee
As thou hast served us.
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9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones
Against the rock. |
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