Psa 129:5-8 | KingComments | STEP | He delivers and blesses the remnant, while He “put to shame and turned backward” “all who hate Zion” ( ). The enemies are called “the wicked” in ; here they are called “all who hate Zion”. Deep down, they hate Zion, the city of Jerusalem, because that city is the city of the great King ( ), and the hatred is directed at Him, the Lord Jesus, that is, at God Himself. The haters of Zion are all who have no regard for God and His promises. The reference to Zion makes it clear that it is about the presence of the LORD in the midst of His people, about His covenant and blessing, and the hope of the establishment of His kingdom. What is wished for the oppressors and what they will receive is compared to “grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up” ( ; cf. ). Grass is a picture of the brevity of life ( ). It stands in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow ( ). The grass upon the housetops withers even faster, it withers away on the very same day it came up. It grows quickly, it has no deep roots, the sun comes up and scorches it, and the wind picks it up and takes it away. That is how quickly the life of those who persecute God’s people is over: it has withered before it is even pulled out. Normally, grass is pulled out and left to dry and then used as food for animals. The grass upon the housetops dries up by itself before it is pulled out. It is a picture of what happens to Herod, as well as to the antichrist of whom Herod is a picture. Herod imagines himself to be a god. God makes it clear that he is not. Normally a person dies first and is then eaten by the worms. Herod is eaten by worms before he dies ( ). Likewise, the antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire without dying, whereas normally a human being dies first and only then the judgment follows ( ; ). There is nothing to be done with this withered grass either, for it does not represent anything at all ( ). It is worthless as hay. A reaper can do nothing with it, he cannot even fill his hand with it, let alone that a binder could make sheaves of it with which he could fill his bosom. This is a complete contrast with the Sower in a previous psalm. He carries His seed, sows it while weeping, and returns rejoicing, carrying His sheaves ( ). No one, none of “those who pass by”, will wish them the blessing of the LORD on their way or bless them in the Name of the LORD ( ). Wishing prosperity on their way is foolishness because they will be shamed ( ) and can never be prosperous. They are going down a road where they let their hatred of God’s people run wild.

‏ Psalms 129:5-8

No Blessing for Zion’s Haters

He delivers and blesses the remnant, while He “put to shame and turned backward” “all who hate Zion” (Psa 129:5). The enemies are called “the wicked” in Psa 129:4; here they are called “all who hate Zion”. Deep down, they hate Zion, the city of Jerusalem, because that city is the city of the great King (Mt 5:35), and the hatred is directed at Him, the Lord Jesus, that is, at God Himself.

The haters of Zion are all who have no regard for God and His promises. The reference to Zion makes it clear that it is about the presence of the LORD in the midst of His people, about His covenant and blessing, and the hope of the establishment of His kingdom.

What is wished for the oppressors and what they will receive is compared to “grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up” (Psa 129:6; cf. Isa 37:27). Grass is a picture of the brevity of life (Isa 40:6). It stands in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow (Mt 6:30).

The grass upon the housetops withers even faster, it withers away on the very same day it came up. It grows quickly, it has no deep roots, the sun comes up and scorches it, and the wind picks it up and takes it away. That is how quickly the life of those who persecute God’s people is over: it has withered before it is even pulled out.

Normally, grass is pulled out and left to dry and then used as food for animals. The grass upon the housetops dries up by itself before it is pulled out. It is a picture of what happens to Herod, as well as to the antichrist of whom Herod is a picture. Herod imagines himself to be a god. God makes it clear that he is not. Normally a person dies first and is then eaten by the worms. Herod is eaten by worms before he dies (Acts 12:21-23). Likewise, the antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire without dying, whereas normally a human being dies first and only then the judgment follows (Rev 19:20; Heb 9:27).

There is nothing to be done with this withered grass either, for it does not represent anything at all (Psa 129:7). It is worthless as hay. A reaper can do nothing with it, he cannot even fill his hand with it, let alone that a binder could make sheaves of it with which he could fill his bosom. This is a complete contrast with the Sower in a previous psalm. He carries His seed, sows it while weeping, and returns rejoicing, carrying His sheaves (Psa 126:6).

No one, none of “those who pass by”, will wish them the blessing of the LORD on their way or bless them in the Name of the LORD (Psa 129:8). Wishing prosperity on their way is foolishness because they will be shamed (Psa 129:5) and can never be prosperous. They are going down a road where they let their hatred of God’s people run wild.