THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS

Passage: Psalms 129:1-8

Key verse: 129:4

NIV

Psalm 129
A song of ascents.

1 “They have greatly oppressed(A) me from my youth,”(B)
    let Israel say;(C)
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
    but they have not gained the victory(D) over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
    and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;(E)
    he has cut me free(F) from the cords of the wicked.”(G)

5 May all who hate Zion(H)
    be turned back in shame.(I)
6 May they be like grass on the roof,(J)
    which withers(K) before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(L)
    nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
    “The blessing of the Lord be on you;
    we bless you(M) in the name of the Lord.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth

A Song of (A)Ascents.

129 “Greatly[a] have they (B)afflicted me (C)from my youth”—
    (D)let Israel now say—
2 “Greatly have they (E)afflicted me (F)from my youth,
    (G)yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 (H)The plowers plowed (I)upon my back;
    they made long their furrows.”
4 The Lord is righteous;
    he has cut (J)the cords of the wicked.
5 May all who hate Zion
    be (K)put to shame and turned backward!
6 Let them be like (L)the grass on the housetops,
    which (M)withers before it grows up,
7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand
    nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
8 nor do those who pass by say,
    (N)“The blessing of the Lord be upon you!
    We (O)bless you in the name of the Lord!”

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 129:1 Or Often; also verse 2
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, cut free from the cords of the wicked (1-4). The nation of Israel was oppressed from the beginning by stronger, more powerful nations. There were many that hated Israel. It seemed that the nation was always under attack, always threatened with annihilation, even taken captive and exiled to a foreign land. But none of their enemies ever gained the victory. The nation remained as God's people, supported by his righteousness. God's righteousness has power to cut us free from the cords of wickedness. His righteousness is our salvation for all who are oppressed. Second, may they be turned back in shame (5-8). There are many who hate the Lord's people and the Lord himself. They seek to oppress his chosen ones, but they will be turned back in shame. Those who hate and reject the Lord are cut off from the source of life. They are like grass that turns to straw and is blown away. Apart from the Lord there is no life or blessing. It is the Lord's righteousness that sustains blessing and life in his people.

Prayer: Lord, I cannot defend myself against the oppression of the wicked. Teach me to depend on your righteousness and be set free.

One Word: The Lord is righteous