Teks -- Psalms 137:4 (NET)

137:4 How can we sing a song to the Lord in a foreign land?

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Psa 137:4 - The Lord's

Those songs which were appointed by God to be sung only in his service.

JFB: Psa 137:3-4

Whether the request was in curiosity or derision, the answer intimates that a compliance was incongruous with their mournful feelings (Pro 25:20).

Clarke: Psa 137:4 - How shall we sing the Lord’ s song

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.

Calvin: Psa 137:4 - How shall we sing, etc

4.How shall we sing, etc. The Psalmist puts a lofty and magnanimous answer into the mouth of the Lord’s people to their insolent reproach, which is this, that they abstained from their songs, as from their legal sacrifices, because the land where they now were was polluted. The Chaldeans thought the Jews were bound down permanently to this place of their exile; the Psalmist, when he calls it a foreign land, suggests that it was but the place of their temporary stay. But the main idea is, that Chaldea was not worthy of the honor of having God’s praises sung in it. No doubt the children of God wherever they have lived have always been strangers and foreigners in the world, but the land of Canaan was the sacred rest provided for them, and the Psalmist well describes them as being foreigners and sojourners when they were in other climes. He would in this way have them to be always ready and prepared for their return, tacitly enforcing what Jeremiah had prophesied, when, in order to prevent them from forgetting their native country, he had definitely foretold the time during which their exile should last, (Jer 25:11; Jer 29:10.) He would in the meantime animate them to constancy, and have them not to coalesce with the Babylonians through motives of fear. In our own day under the Papacy, great as the danger may be to which the faithful expose themselves by not conforming to the example around them, the Holy Spirit makes use of such a barrier as this to separate them from sinful compliances. ¹⁸³ To those, whether Frenchmen, Englishmen, or Italians, who love and practice the true religion, even their native country is a foreign clime when they live under that tyranny. And yet there is a distinction between us and God’s ancient people, for at that time the worship of God was confined to one place, but now he has his Temple wherever two or three are met together in Christ’s name, if they separate themselves from all idolatrous profession, and maintain purity of divine worship. The Psalmist by the language which he employs would by no means put down every attempt on their part to celebrate God’s praises. He rather exhorts them under their affliction to wait with patience till the liberty of publicly worshipping God was restored, saying’ upon the matter — We have been bereft of our Temple and sacrifices, we wander as exiles in a polluted land, and what remains but that in remembrance of our outcast state we should sigh and groan for the promised deliverance.

TSK: Psa 137:4 - How shall // strange land

How shall : Ecc 3:4; Isa 22:12; Lam 5:14, Lam 5:15; Hos 9:4; Amo 8:3

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

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Psa 137:4 - The Lord’ s song

The Lord’ s song those songs which were appointed by God, and to be sung only to his honour and in his service. In a strange land ; when we are banished from our own temple and land, and amongst those who are strangers and enemies to God and to his worship. So we should prostitute and profane God’ s ordinances. And this answer they either expressed to their enemies, or kept in their own breasts when they refused to comply with their desire.

Haydock: Psa 137:4 - Mouth

Mouth. All kingdoms shall sooner or later, become acquainted with the gospel. (Worthington) ---

The predictions of Jeremias, &c., had been communicated to the neighbouring princes, (Calmet) and all might know that God had executed his threats and promises. (Haydock) ---

Yet none of them embraced the true religion, even after the captivity, so that this relates to Christ. (Berthier)

Gill: Psa 137:4 - How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

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, Psa 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, Mat 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 Psa 137:2.