| Scripture |
Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
| 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down; yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. |
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 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. |
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 carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that made us wail required mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. |
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 should we sing a song of Jehovah's upon a foreign soil? |
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| 5 If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill; |
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 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to my palate: if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. |
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 sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, Lay it bare, Lay it bare, down to its foundation! |
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| 8 Daughter of Babylon, who art to be laid waste, happy he that rendereth unto thee that which thou hast meted out to us. |
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| 9 Happy he that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock. |
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