Psalms 137:7 - Meaning and Application

The faithful Jews in Babylon had already grieved over the ruins of Jerusalem. Here they look ahead to the ruin of Jerusalem’s stubborn enemies, not out of personal revenge, but out of zeal for God’s glory and the honor of his kingdom.

The Edomites, and all the others who helped destroy Jerusalem, will surely be held accountable. They were aiding the attack, cheering it on, and even crying out in the day of Jerusalem’s judgment, “Tear it down, tear it down, down to the very foundation.” In this way, they made the Chaldean army even more fierce, though the Babylonians were already violently angry. They also added shame to Israel, making it seem as if even the neighboring nations thought God’s people deserved to be cut off. This came from the old hostility of Esau against Jacob, because Jacob received the birthright and the blessing. It also reflects the older conflict between the offspring of the woman and the offspring of the serpent. So the psalmist says, “Lord, remember them,” which is a call for God’s justice. We must never take revenge ourselves, even if we could. We should leave vengeance to the One who has said, “Vengeance is mine.” Those who rejoice when Jerusalem suffers will not go unpunished. Those who side with persecutors, encourage them, and enjoy what they do will answer to God for it one day, and he will remember it.

Babylon is the main enemy here, and her turn will also come to drink the cup of trembling, all the way to the dregs (Psalm 137:8, Psalm 137:9). “Daughter of Babylon” means proud and secure Babylon, and the Scriptures clearly show that she is destined for destruction. Or, as Dr. Hammond reads it, she is herself the destroyer. The destroyers will be destroyed (Revelation 13:10). This may also point to the man of sin, the leader of New Testament Babylon, who is called a son of perdition, meaning one marked out for ruin (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Because Babylon’s destruction is sure, the psalm speaks of it in three ways. First, it is a just destruction, because Babylon will be paid back in her own coin. She treated others brutally, and she will be treated the same way, as in Revelation 18:6. Those who refuse mercy when they have power should not expect mercy for themselves. Second, it is a total destruction. Even Babylon’s little children, when the city falls in battle, will be dashed to pieces by a conqueror who shows no pity. If the little ones are destroyed, nothing remains to raise up a future generation. So the ruin is not only complete, as Jerusalem’s was, but final, like a millstone sinking into the sea and never rising again. Third, this destruction will honor the instruments God uses to carry it out. Blessed are those who do it, because they are carrying out God’s own plan. That is why he calls Cyrus, the Persian ruler who destroyed Babylon, his servant, his shepherd, and his anointed one (Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1), and he calls the soldiers his holy ones (Isaiah 13:3). They are helping make room for the enlargement of God’s Israel, and blessed are all who serve that purpose in any way. The fall of New Testament Babylon will bring joy to all the saints (Revelation 19:1).