Psalms Chapter 129 A Song of Ascents.
1 Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say,
2 many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The ploughers ploughed on my back. They made their furrows long.
4 The LORD is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them be disappointed and turned backward, all those who hate Zion.
6 Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,
7 with which the reaper doesn't fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.
8 Neither do those who go by say, "The blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the LORD's name."
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Psalms Chapter 129 A Song of Ascents. Guide
This song is that of one who ascending toward the much desired place of rest and worship, looks back and sees how in the past Jehovah has delivered from sore perils. The backward look would seem to be inspired by consciousness of present peril, for immediately the song expresses desire for the judgment of Jehovah against those who are described as hating Zion.
On the way to the city and temple those who hate the pilgrims of faith plot and scheme for their overthrow, and it is in the consciousness of this that the song celebrates past deliverances and seeks a continuance of them. While there is evidently a sense of danger in the mind of the singer, there is an utter absence of despair. It is the true attitude of those who have a rich experience of the faithfulness of God. In times of peril it is a good thing for the pilgrim to strengthen the heart by looking back and remembering past deliverances. Such an exercise will invariably create a present confidence.
"His love in time past forbids me to think He'll leave me at last in trouble to sink; Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review Confirms His good pleasure to help me quite through."
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 129 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Thankfulness for former deliverances. -- (1-4)
- A believing prospect of the destruction of the enemies of Zion. -- (5-8)
Verses 1-4
The enemies of God's people have very barbarously endeavoured to wear out the saints of the Most High. But the church has been always graciously delivered. Christ has built his church upon a rock. And the Lord has many ways of disabling wicked men from doing the mischief they design against his church. The Lord is righteous in not suffering Israel to be ruined; he has promised to preserve a people to himself.
Verses 5-8
While God's people shall flourish as the loaded palm-tree, or the green and fruitful olive, their enemies shall wither as the grass upon the house-tops, which in eastern countries are flat, and what grows there never ripens; so it is with the designs of God's enemies. No wise man will pray the Lord to bless these mowers or reapers. And when we remember how Jesus arose and reigns; how his people have been supported, like the burning but unconsumed bush, we shall not fear.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.