A SONG OF DETERMINATION

Passage: Psalms 129:1-8

Key verse: 2

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

Some people, and some nations, have had a continuous hard struggle just to continue to exist (1-2). Israel was such a nation. Being weighed down or driven along by tough circumstances can seem like having our back plowed with a plow (3). But with faith, we can find God’s purpose even in this. The author of this Psalm sets an example of acknowledging our hardships but determining to not let our spirit be crushed by difficulties. If we have faith, we know that God will give us strength to endure, as well as inner freedom in Jesus (4). Let’s also remember that Jesus’ back was plowed with whips for our sins.

In the second stanza of the Psalm, the author prays earnestly that the oppressors of God’s people will not be blessed. It may not seem like a Christian prayer, but it is better to pray for God’s justice than to take revenge into our own hands.

Prayer: Father, when I feel hard pressed or even oppressed, give me strength and help me find your spiritual victory. Thank you for Jesus who suffered so much for me.

One Word: With God’s help I will be victorious.