O daughter of Babylon, &c.— O daughter of Babylon, the destroyed; [not Babylon the proud, as she now is; but Babylon the destroyed, for so she certainly shall be, when it comes to her turn;] How happy he that shall, &c. The sense is, "God will give a prosperous success to the Persians and Medes, against the Babylonians or Chaldeans." See Jeremiah 9:26. Isaiah 13:19; Isaiah 13:22. It has been objected, that the imprecations in these verses against Babylon do not well comport with God's directions to his captive people to pray for the peace of Babylon. Jeremiah 29:7. But here we must distinguish between the ordinary rule of practice and the extraordinary commissions given to prophets: The Psalmist was a prophet, and wrote by the special direction of the Holy Spirit; while the common people of Israel, and prophets also in their private capacity, were to follow the ordinary rule of praying for those very enemies whose destruction was coming on, but in God's own time. In the mean while the safety of the Jewish captives depended upon the safety of Babylon, and was wrapped up in it; and so it concerned them both in point of duty and interest to submit peaceably and quietly to their new masters, and to pray for their prosperity: notwithstanding all which, they might justly hope for a deliverance at the seventy years' end; and God might instruct his prophets to declare it before-hand, together with the manner of it. Isaiah had prophesied of the destruction of Babylon above 150 years before, and in terms not unlike what we find in this psalm. He had said, chap. Isaiah 13:16. Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes. The Psalmist further adds, that the instrument under God in punishing Babylon shall be happy; shall be blessed, and praised in his deed; as having done a glorious work in executing the divine justice upon her, and at the same time rescuing and delivering the people of God. This prophecy or denunciation was fulfilled, as we remarked, by the Medes and Persians, under the conduct of Cyrus the servant and chosen of God: and now what harm could there be in the Psalmist's presignifying in a pathetic style these high and marvellous things?
Certainly the ordinary rule to go by is, Bless, and curse not; a rule so sacred, that men are effectually tied up from all cursings of their own; and have no power left in that case, except it be to declare God's curses, and those general only, or in the very words of Scripture. See Numbers 23:8. As to any thing more special, God seems to have reserved it to his own special directions; which have ceased long ago, ever since prophesies have ceased. See Waterland's Script. Vind. part 3: p. 28.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, This psalm is the composition of a mournful muse; and while we meditate thereon, scarcely can the sympathetic heart forbear to mingle her tears with those of the afflicted captives. We have,
1. Their mournful condition. By the rivers of Babylon, far from the gates of Zion, under a heavy yoke, either employed in servile labours near these streams, or stealing thither sadly to muse on their wretched state, we sat down, yea we wept, indulging their melancholy reflections, and swelling the torrent with their tears, when we remembered thee, O Zion; Zion, Zion, arose before their eyes, her palaces in smoky ruins lay, her temple in heaps, her altars overturned, her sacrifices ceased, and sullen silence reigned in the once-thronged gates: such desolations pierced their hearts with anguish, while deep reflection on their sins, the cause of all, called forth still bitterer sorrows; their instruments of music on willows hung neglected by, their hearts untuned, their harps unstrung, and all their songs turned into sighs and groans.
2. Their oppressors insulted over them; not content with plundering their substance, and enslaving their persons, they required songs from their heavy hearts; and, scoffing at the songs of Zion, would turn these sacred services into profane mirth. Note; (1.) It is doubly cruel to insult the afflicted. (2.) The songs of Zion have often been the butt of scoffers' wit; but God is not mocked, he is jealous and avengeth.
3. Their reply. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? These sacred songs ill-suited the company of the profane; nor ought these holy things to be given to dogs; better exasperate their masters by a refusal, than anger their God by sinful compliance.
4. Their rooted affection to Jerusalem. Deeply engraven on their hearts, nor time, nor distance, banished the loved image from their thoughts; they longed to be there, they hoped the time was near, and ceaseless thitherward directed their faces and their prayers; they preferred it to their chief joy; all personal prosperity and comfort were nothing so near or dear to them as the interest of Zion: much rather therefore did they wish to forget their skill in music, or that their withered arm might shrink, and their tongue cleave to the roof of their mouth, than forget the city of their solemnities, cease to remember her with honour and delight, or dare by base compliances to entertain the sons of Babylon, or serve their gods, with Zion's sacred music. Note; (1.) The interests of Christ's church and kingdom will be ever dearer to his people than their own. (2.) When the path of duty is clear, however dangerous, we are called to steadfast adherence to it; better lose our limbs or life than lose our souls.
2nd, Not revenge, but zeal for God's glory, dictates these desires.
1. Edom's malice in the day of Jerusalem's affliction was cruel; they sharpened the Chaldeans' fury, and wished them to rase the city and temple to their foundations: for this, a complaint is lodged against them with that God who is the avenger of his people's wrongs, and they shall not go unpunished. The persecutors of God's people will assuredly be reckoned with, and every hard speech against them be remembered in the day of recompence.
2. The doom of Babylon is read. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; such is the divine decree, and nothing can prevent its execution: happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us; as Cyrus did, when, executing the counsels of God, he entered that devoted city, and retaliated on them the cruelty they had shewn their captives. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth the little ones against the stones; and as Babylon thus fell of old, Babylon mystical shall meet the same destruction from the righteous judgment of God, and all antichristian oppressors of God's church and people sink as a millstone cast into the sea, and never rise up again.