Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 137:5-9

"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget [her skill]. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy. Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom The day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, Even to the foundation thereof. O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us. Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock." — Psalms 137:5-9 (ASV)

What we love, we love to think of. Those who rejoice in God, for His sake make Jerusalem their joy. They steadfastly resolved to keep up this affection.

When suffering, we should recollect with godly sorrow our forfeited mercies, and our sins by which we lost them. If temporal advantages ever induce a profession, the worst calamity has befallen him.

Far be it from us to avenge ourselves; we will leave it to Him who has said, Vengeance is mine. Those who are glad at calamities, especially at the calamities of Jerusalem, shall not go unpunished.

We cannot pray for the promised success of God's church without also anticipating the ruin of her enemies, even if we do not explicitly pray for that ruin. But let us remember that it is solely by His grace and finished salvation that we have any hope of being brought home to the heavenly Jerusalem.