CUT FREE FROM THE CORDS OF THE WICKED

Passage: Psalms 129:1-8

Key verse: 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

1. Victory from God (1-4)

Israel was born in slavery. She was oppressed by hostile neighbors or by superpowers during much of her history. But the Lord had a great purpose for her. He wanted to raise her up as his own people to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex 19:5,6). He cut her free from the cords of the wicked. God sets his people free to serve him. When we worship our righteous God and acknowledge his sovereignty, no one can gain victory over us.

2. All who hate Zion (5-8)

Those who hate God and oppress and harass his people will be turned back in shame. People without God in their lives are like grass trying to grow on a roof: It has no roots, so it withers in the hot sun before it can grow. People without God can have no blessing from God, so their lives are dry and fruitless. God's people have victory when they wait patiently on God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for cutting me free from the cords of sin and death. Thank you for blessing me to put down roots in your word so that my life is fruitful.

One Word: Thank God for his grace and blessing