مزامير 137:4

کتاب مقدس

4 چگونه سرود خداوند را، در زمین بیگانه بخوانیم؟

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

How shall: Ecclesiastes 3:4, Isaiah 22:12, Lamentations 5:14, Lamentations 5:15, Hosea 9:4, Amos 8:3

strange land: Heb. land of a stranger, Isaiah 49:21

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 4:13 - his heart 2 Chronicles 29:27 - the song Proverbs 25:20 - so Isaiah 26:1 - in the land Lamentations 1:7 - the adversaries

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?] This is the answer returned by the Jews to the above request or demand; it may be, particularly, by the Levites, whose business it was to sing these songs: so the Targum,

"immediately the Levites said, how shall we sing the hymns of the Lord in a strange land?''

This they said, not merely on account of their unsuitable circumstances, being in distress and affliction, and so not disposed for such work; nor as if unlawful to them, being forbidden: for, though sacrifices were not to be offered but at Jerusalem, yet songs of praise might be sung elsewhere, on proper occasions, as David did,

Psalms 18:49; but as wondering at their insolence, and complaining of their cruelty and inhumanity, thus to insult them and jeer at them: or rather, because it was "the Lord's song" they required, and so sacred, and not to be sung in any place, or at any time, and in any company; which would be but casting pearls before swine, and giving that which was holy to dogs, Matthew 7:6; or it may be they required this to be done in one of their temples, and to their idols, just as these songs were sung in the temple at Jerusalem, and to the honour of Jehovah; and therefore they refused to do it: for it may be rendered, or however interpreted, "in the land of a strange god" c; as it is by Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech: they required them to sing with mirth and joy, which they could not do in their present case; see Psalms 137:2.

c על אדמת נכר "in terra peregina, sc. Dei", Muis, Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

How shall we sing the Lord’s song - The song designed to celebrate his praise; that is, appropriate to the worship of Yahweh.

In a strange land - Far from our home; far from the temple; exiles; captives: how can we find spirit in such circumstances to sing? How can we do that which would be indicative of what we do not feel, and cannot feel - joy and happiness! The idea is not that those psalms or songs would be profaned by being sung there, or that there would be anything improper in itself in singing them, but that it would be misplaced and incongruous to sing them in their circumstances. It would be doing violence to their own feelings; their feelings would not allow them to do it. There are states of mind when the language of joy is appropriate and natural; there are states where the heart is so sad that it cannot sing.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 137:4. How shall we sing the Lord's song — איך נשיר eich! nashir; O, we sing! Who does not hear the deep sigh in the strongly guttural sound of the original איך eich! wrung, as it were, from the bottom of the heart? Can WE, in this state of slavery, - WE, exiles, from our country, - WE, stripped of all our property, - WE, reduced to contempt by our strong enemy, - WE, deprived of our religious privileges, - WE, insulted by our oppressors, - WE, in the land of heathens, - WE sing, or be mirthful in these circumstances? No: God does not expect it; man should not wish it; and it is base in our enemies to require it.