Imprecation Against the Enemies of the Church
D. Dickson. Psalm 137:7-9 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.… 1. False brethren are the chief instruments of persecution of the true members of the Church whensoever they find occasion. 2. Whosoever do delight in the Church's calamity, and do endeavour the Church's ruin by word or deed; by their stirring up of others to afflict them; or by any oppression which may tend to the Church's prejudice, when the Lord is visiting her, their sin shall not be forgotten of God in the day when the Lord judgeth His people, but shall be severely punished. 3. No less will suffice the adversaries of the Church than the utter ruin and razing of it to the ground. 4. The estate of the Church at the worst is better than the estate of Babylon, or any estate of her adversaries, how prosperous soever at the best; for albeit the Church be in captivity and oppressed, yet she shall not be destroyed, but it is not so with her adversaries. 5. Faith is neither blinded by the prosperity of the wicked, nor by the adversity of the Church, but doth see through the prospect of the Lord's Word, both her approaching delivery of the Church and the ruin of her enemies. 6. As the enemies of God's Church have measured out unto the Lord's people, so it shall be measured back again and more, for a reward unto her adversaries. 7. There is a happiness, wherein blessedness doth not consist, which neither is a part or branch of blessedness, nor a proper mark of blessedness, but only signifieth some happiness in the consequence of a man's work, tending to the glory of God and good of His Church; and such is the happiness of the Modes and Persians here spoken of, who, whatsoever were their corrupt intentions in their war, did work, albeit not as religious servants, yet as God's instruments, a good work of justice upon the oppressors of God's people, and a good work of delivery of the Lord's people. 8. Albeit it be a sinful thing to satisfy our carnal affection in the misery of any man; yet it is lawful in God's cause to wish that God be glorified, albeit in the confusion of His enemies; and here great need is to have the heart well guarded with the fear of God, for wherewise to allow the dashing of little ones against the stones might make a man guilty of savage cruelty. (D. Dickson.). Parallel Verses KJV: Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. WEB: Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, "Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!"