| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 By rivers of Babylon There we did sit, 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 On willows in its midst we hung our harps. |
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 our captors asked us the words of a song, And our spoilers joy: 'Sing ye to us of a song 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 do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger |
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| 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth! |
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 My tongue doth cleave to my palate, If I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt 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, Jehovah, for the sons of Edom, The day of Jerusalem, Those saying, 'Rase, rase to its foundation!' |
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| 8 O daughter of Babylon, O destroyed one, O the happiness of him who repayeth to thee thy deed, That thou hast done to us. |
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| 9 O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock! |
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