We continue with the series of Psalms called “A Song of Ascents”, which were sung as the pilgrims came to Jerusalem to remember God’s many past deliverances (such as in the Feasts of Passover or Tabernacles), as they prayed confidently for God’s continued protection and the defeat of their many enemies. And as for us, a reminder that even our Lord Jesus Christ joined His voice with His disciples in the celebration of these festivities!

 

“Whereas most nations tend to look back on what they have achieved, Israel reflects here on what she has survived. It could be a disheartening exercise, for Zion still has its ill-wishers. But the singers take courage from the past, facing God with gratitude and their enemies with defiance.” (Derek Kidner)

 

As we read the first verses, the psalmist penned:

“Many times they have persecuted me (Israel) from my youth,” Let Israel now say, 2 “Many times they have persecuted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me” (129:1-2)

 

“‘Many a time,’ Israel says, because she could not say how many times. She speaks of her assailants as ‘they,’ because it would be impossible to write or even to know all their names.” (Spurgeon)

Yes, from the time Israel was a people (from its youth in Egypt) countless times they had been under persecution and even unto this day! (Jeremiah 2:2, Ezekiel 23:3)

Our Lord Jesus Christ warned His disciples (His Church) they too would be persecuted:

“And you will be hated by everyone because of (your association with) My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved.” (Matt. 10:22, 2 Tim. 3:12), and this warning extends to us too!

As we continue reading the following verses the psalmist describes how terrible their afflictions have been, and as C.H Spurgeon explains:

 

“The afflicted nation was, as it were, lashed by her adversaries so cruelly that each blow left a long red mark, or perhaps a bleeding wound, upon her back and shoulders, comparable to a furrow which tears up the ground from one end of the field to the other.” (Spurgeon)

"The (enemies, like) plowers plowed upon my back; they made their furrows of suffering) long (in Israel)." (Psalm 129:3 AMP)

This brings to my mind our Lord Jesus’ suffering (before His crucifixion), who was also beaten unmercifully and flogged on his back until his skin was torn and bleeding profusely!! And this was a prolonged suffering until He gave His life on the cross!

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our wickedness (our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing); the punishment (required) for our well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes (wounds) we are healed. “(Isaiah 53:5 AMP)

Yes, we too as His people have been persecuted and afflicted by the enemy of our souls but let us remember that we must hold fast and persevere for:

"[He] who for the joy (of accomplishing the goal) set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work). 3 Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself (consider it all in comparison with your trials), so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2b-3 AMP)

Amen ladies! Let us not lose heart in the midst of our tribulations for just as He promised to preserve His covenant with His people of Israel, and His faithfulness in delivering them from the bondage of their enemies, and through Jesus Christ He has done the same for us! And this is a demonstration of His righteousness! The fact that the LORD is righteous means He has and will always keep His promises to Israel.

"The LORD is righteous; He has cut in two the (thick) cords of the wicked (which enslaved the people of Israel)." (Psalm 129:4 AMP)

We need not to curse our enemies (129:6-8), for Jesus has taught us to pray for them and our God and Deliverer will deal with them according to His justice! (Matt. 5: 43-48, Romans 12:14,19-21)

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you for delivering us from our afflictions in the past and in the future, until you take us Home. O Father, thank you for cutting the cords of our enemy, delivering us from the bondage of sin through the precious Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus for taking our curse upon yourself (Galatians 3:13), so that we need not curse our enemies, but rather love them through You, with the love that You poured at the cross. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen!

Blessings,

Mari