提要
我們在詩篇第一三七篇中聽到某些利未音樂家的哀歌，因為他們被仇敵所擄離開家鄉，在詩篇一開始，詩人就描寫他們坐在巴比倫河邊哭泣，實在是一件悲哀的事，因為它反映以色列人的過去種種，但是突然語調改變了，而在詩篇行將結束時，表達深度的不安，因為他們談到未來如何向他們的仇敵報仇。在他們被放逐的期間，他們因聖殿及聖城被毀，及自己坎坷不幸的命運而感悲傷流淚。他們的仇敵嘲笑他們，要他們唱歌歡樂，但是他們情願忘記演奏的技巧，也不願在一度屬於上帝家的外邦人土地上歌唱。他們情願他們的右手癱瘓，也不願忘記耶路撒冷──他們曾經在那裡歡欣禱告與歌唱的，敬拜耶和華的地方。
突然，他們悲傷的眼淚化為強烈的憤怒，及咒詛他們仇敵的惡言，雖然這一轉變並不能反映新約聖經以寬恕為本的原則，但是卻支持「以眼還眼」的一般世俗倫理。他們對本為他們兄弟的以東人（以掃的後裔）發洩憤怒，因為他們協助及支持巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒毀滅耶路撒冷（摩1：11；結25：12~14）。他們痛苦地祈求，上帝也能報復巴比倫人，就像他們那樣報復他們及他們的兒女。然而這一咒詛是不對的。他們的心裡一點都沒有上帝的慈愛與寬恕。
在詩篇第一三八篇中，大衛明白表示，他要竭力讚美耶和華。他要在地上的諸神面前讚美上帝，因此，當他們聽到他對上帝的聖殿唱讚美詩時，及當他們聽到耶和華的話語時，他們和他們的偶像就會受到羞辱。他預見所有的異教君王都要和他一起對唯一的真神唱讚美詩。這一預見並沒有在他統治的期間應驗，但是到耶穌彌賽亞的統治時，它就完全實現了。那是耶和華的偉大榮耀，促使他們崇拜祂。上帝在祂的謙卑中充份啟示出祂的榮耀，因為祂降格振作人類，並且伸出祂的雙手，拯救苦難的人類。由於祂的真理和慈愛，我們要讚美祂，因為我們相信，祂會在我們的生活中實踐祂的目的。祂在祂關心人類的過程中受到榮耀，因為祂要成全「在我們心裡動了善工的……，直到耶穌基督的日子」（腓1：6：138：8）。
詩篇第一三九篇乃是極深奧的詩篇之一。它描述有關神學的問題及上帝與人的關係。大衛對上帝的無所不知（全知）充滿敬畏之感，並且承認，他本人的知識是有限的，因為不可能完全理解上帝。不過，由於上帝在本詩篇中的啟示，祂將最新的及革命性的悟性賜給大衛的後裔及每一代的人，使他們更能認識上帝自己，因而使我們對上帝有了近一步的理解。詩人相信，上帝知道有關他本人的每一件事。上帝甚至在他開口禱告之前，就知道他心裡想說的每一個字。上帝真的能看透他的心，並且知道藏在他言語與行為之後的動機（139：116；來4：13）。
然而，上帝的另一個使詩人心感敬畏的屬性就是無所不在（到處都在）。上帝存在於地上與地下的每一個地方。祂在我們的上面，在我們的下面，也在我們的四周。祂無所不見的眼睛一直都在注視著人類（摩9：2）。祂是如此地接近我們，所以人們都可以找到祂，並且體驗祂的救恩（徒17：27~28）。不論祂的兒女在那裡，甚至是在最遙遠或是最黑暗的地方，我們都可以肯定，祂是跟我們在一起，並且在我們呼求祂時，隨時帶領我們。從上帝顯現所放射出來的最亮的光驅走了黑暗。
詩人所頌讚的另一個奇妙就是上帝的無所不在，無所不知（包括祂的預知）、及無所不能（全能），而且它們顯然在子宮中形成了未出生的嬰兒。詩人知道，甚至在他出生之前，上帝就知道他了；事實上，祂從祂被懷孕的那一剎那之間就知道他了。上帝同他一起在那黑暗又隱秘的地方，以及上帝是他形成及成長之後的大能與無限的智慧。在上帝的眼中，這個未出生的胎兒是非常寶貝的，所以祂要特別看顧那個不死的靈魂，以及祂會為每個成孕的新生命預定一個計劃和目的。詩人的心思已為上帝的靈所照亮，然而他還是帶著無比的敬畏而對上帝的不可理解的思想，因為它們是不可計數的，也是最寶貴的。
當詩人回想起耶和華的大能與奇妙的作為時，他就會由心裡湧起了義怒，有勇氣對抗世界上凡是嘲笑，或是咒詛上帝的惡人。祇想榮耀及讚美上帝的他，不想與這些人有任何關連。他想看到上帝用祂的烈怒消滅他們，好使地上祇有喜愛和讚美上帝的人。這一天遲早會來到的，但是它會發生在祇有上帝自己認為合適的時間和計劃內。就像大衛開始這一詩篇時一樣，他也用類似的禱告結束它（應作為所有信徒的禱告），祈求上帝試驗、探究，及鑒察我們的心思。好使所有的不潔思想立刻消除。上帝潔淨的最後結果就是永恆的生命。
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Overview
In Psalm 137 we hear of the lament of some of the Levitical musicians who went away into captivity. It is very sad at the beginning as they reflect on their past, but suddenly the tone changes and it becomes very upsetting in the end as the captives talk of the future revenge they desire on their captors. In their exile, they mourned and wept at the destruction of the Temple, the Holy City, and their own misfortunes. Their captors ridiculed them, asking them to sing, but they would rather lose their ability to play, than to play the songs in the foreign land that once belonged to the Lord's House. They would rather be paralyzed with the loss of their right hand than to forget Jerusalem, the centre of worship to God where they had once joyously played and sung.
Suddenly, their tears of sorrow changed to great anger and words of cursing for their oppressors that do not reflect the principles of the New Testament but which purport "an eye for an eye". They vented their fury against Edom who were their brothers, (descendants from Esau), who had helped and supported Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of Jerusalem (Amos 1:11; Ezek. 25:12-14). They prayed in bitterness that God would do the same to Babylon, as they had done to them and their babies. Yet such an imprecation can never be justified. They did not have the love and forgiveness of God in their hearts.
In Psalm 138, David expresses his resolve to boldly praise the Lord. He praises God before all the kings of the earth, and before all their gods, so that all will be ashamed of themselves and their idolatry when they hear him sing praises toward God's Holy Temple and when they hear the words of the Lord. He envisions all the heathen kings joining him in singing praises to the One and only true God. This was not fulfilled during his reign, but will be during the Messianic reign of Jesus. It will be the great glory of the Lord which will cause them to worship Him. God's glory is especially revealed in His condescension to revive, stretch out His hand, and save wretched mankind. Because of His truth and lovingkindness we are to praise Him because we can be confident that He will fulfill His purpose in our lives. He is glorified in His concern to complete "that good work in us.. .until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6; 138:8).
Psalm 139 is one of the most profound psalms. It deals with many aspects of theology and God's relationship to man. David is awestruck by God's omniscience (all-knowing) and admits that his own knowledge is limited, for man can never fully comprehend God. However, with the divine revelation in this psalm, God gave new and revolutionary understanding about Himself to David's generation and each successive one, that we also might learn more about our wonderful Lord. The psalmist is convinced that God knows everything about him. God even knows his inner most thoughts before he utters a word. Truly God looks upon the heart and knows the motivation behind all our words and deeds (139: 1-6; Heb. 4:13).
Yet another attribute of God that causes the psalmist to be awestruck, is His omnipresence (all-present). In every place upon the earth, under the earth, or above the earth, God is there. He is before us, in front of us, underneath us, above us, and around us. His divine all-seeing eyes are ever watchful for mankind (Amos 9:2). He is near so that people may find Him and experience His salvation (Act 17:27-28). Wherever His children are, even in the remotest or darkest of places, we can be sure that He is with us to guide us when we call upon Him. The brilliant light that radiates from God's presence casts out all darkness.
Yet another marvel that the psalmist expresses is God's omnipresence, omniscience (including His foreknowledge) and omnipotence (all-powerful) which are evident in the formation of the unborn child within the womb. The psalmist is aware that God knew him even before he was born; in fact He knew him from the moment of conception. God was there with him in the dark and secret place, and God was the power and infinite wisdom behind His formation and growth. How precious is the unborn child in God's sight that He would be so watchful and caring over that undying soul, and that He would have a pre-ordained plan and purpose for each new life that is conceived. The psalmist's mind has been illuminated by God's Spirit, and yet he stands in awe at the incomprehensible nature of God's thoughts which are innumerable and so very precious to him.
Reflecting upon the power and marvelous deeds of the Lord, causes the psalmist's righteous indignation to rise against the wicked sinful people of the world who speak against God to mock and curse Him. He who only magnifies and praises God wants nothing to do with such people. He wants to see divine wrath consume them so that upon the earth there will only be those who love and praise God. One day, this will come, but it will be in the Lord's perfect timing and plan. As David began the psalm, he now concludes with a similar prayer request, (that should be prayed by all believers) for God to test, search out, and probe our hearts so that all impurity will be gone. The end result of God's cleansing will be everlasting life.
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