Psa 129 | MHM | STEP | The Church’s Long Struggle and God’s Faithfulness In this psalm, the church of God speaks as if it is one person, looking back over its long history. The church remembers many times of trouble and suffering caused by enemies. Even though these troubles were sometimes the result of the people’s own sins, much of the suffering came because of their special relationship with God. Throughout history, God’s people have often been attacked and oppressed, but God has always helped them survive. This psalm shows both the pain the church has faced and the faithfulness of God in delivering His people. v. 1 : The psalm begins, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth—let Israel now say . Israel, God’s people, have been attacked and oppressed more than any other nation. From their early days in Egypt and through the time of the Judges, they suffered much. The church has always had many enemies and has often been in trouble, especially when it was young. Even the early Christian church faced many persecutions. God’s people have always been like a “speckled bird, pecked at by all the birds round about” (Jeremiah 12:9 ).

‏ Psalms 129

The Church’s Long Struggle and God’s Faithfulness

In this psalm, the church of God speaks as if it is one person, looking back over its long history. The church remembers many times of trouble and suffering caused by enemies. Even though these troubles were sometimes the result of the people’s own sins, much of the suffering came because of their special relationship with God. Throughout history, God’s people have often been attacked and oppressed, but God has always helped them survive. This psalm shows both the pain the church has faced and the faithfulness of God in delivering His people.

v. 1: The psalm begins, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth—let Israel now say . Israel, God’s people, have been attacked and oppressed more than any other nation. From their early days in Egypt and through the time of the Judges, they suffered much. The church has always had many enemies and has often been in trouble, especially when it was young. Even the early Christian church faced many persecutions. God’s people have always been like a “speckled bird, pecked at by all the birds round about” (Jeremiah 12:9 ^a).

v. 2: The psalm repeats, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me . Even though the enemies tried to destroy God’s people again and again, they never succeeded. The church has survived many storms and attacks. Jesus said, The gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18 ^b). God always keeps His promise to protect His people.

v. 3: The psalm describes the suffering: The ploughers ploughed upon my back; they made long their furrows . This means the enemies treated God’s people very cruelly, like a farmer tearing up the ground with a plough. Sometimes this refers to real beatings and punishments, as when people were whipped for their faith (Hebrews 11:36 ^c). It also points to the destruction of cities, as when Zion shall, for your sake, be ploughed as a field (Micah 3:12 ^d). Even Jesus suffered this way, as He said, I gave my back to the smiters (Isaiah 50:6 ^e).

v. 4: The psalm then says, The Lord is righteous: he has cut asunder the cords of the wicked . God always does what is right. He allows His people to suffer for their sins, but He never lets their enemies destroy them completely. God breaks the power of the wicked, stops their plans, and sets His people free. He is just both in allowing trouble and in saving His people. God also promises to punish those who hurt His people (2 Thessalonians 1:6 ^f).

God's Regard to His Church

After celebrating how God has defeated the many plans to destroy His people, the psalmist ends with a prayer, much like Deborah’s song: So let all your enemies perish, O Lord! (Judges 5:31 ^g). This section focuses on those who hate God’s people and the certainty that their efforts against the church will fail.

v. 5: There are many who hate Zion—meaning they hate God, His worship, and His people. These enemies want to destroy the church and stop true religion from spreading. But we should pray that all their plans will fail. The psalmist says, Let them all be confounded and turned back . This means their efforts will end in shame and disappointment. God’s people will flourish, but their enemies will be like grass on the house-top—short-lived, weak, and useless (Isaiah 51:12 ^h). This grass withers quickly because it has no root and is exposed to the sun. In the same way, the enemies of God’s church will fade away before they can do real harm. Their plans will never succeed, and their “harvest” will only bring grief (Isaiah 17:11 ⁱ).

v. 6: The psalmist continues the picture: Wherewith the mower fills not his hand, nor he that binds sheaves his bosom (Psalm 129:7 ^j). This means the enemies’ work will be useless. Just as grass on a rooftop cannot be gathered for any good purpose, so the efforts of those who fight against God’s people will come to nothing.

v. 7: The psalmist adds, Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord (Psalm 129:8 ^k). In Bible times, it was common to greet harvest workers with a blessing, as Boaz did: The Lord be with you (Ruth 2:4 ^l). But no one will bless the enemies of God’s church or wish them success in their evil plans. In fact, wise and good people will pray for their defeat, not their success. If we wish success to those who fight against God’s people, we share in their wrongdoing (2 John 11 ^m). Instead, we should pray that God will stop them, for it is dangerous to support those who oppose His church (Job 5:3 ⁿ).