The Book of Psalms

Psalm 129

Psalm CXXIX · Vol. II, p. 1071

1 An exhortation to praise God for saving Israel in their great afflictions. 5 The haters of the church are cursed.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

^aA song of degrees.

1 Many a^b time have they afflicted me from my ^cyouth, may Israel now say:

B.C. cir. 1045.

a Ps.cxx.-cxxxiv. titles.

b Or, Much, Ex.i. Ju.iii.iv.vi.x.xiii. 1 Sa.iv.xiii.xxxi. 2 Ch.xii.xiv.xxi.xxviii.xxxii.xxxvi. Ezr.iv.v. La.1.3.

c Je.2.2. Ho.2.15; 11.1. Eze.16.1-14; 23.3.

2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet ^dthey have not prevailed against me.

d Jn.16.33. Job 5.19. Ps.34.19. Re.12.7,8.

3 The ^eploughers ploughed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

e Is.51.23. He.11.36. ver.1,2. Job 4.8. Ho.10.13.

4 The^g LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.¹

g De.32.35,36. 2 Th.1.6,7. Ps.140.5; 124.7,8.

1 The cords of bondage. He hath freed us from slavery—he did so in Egypt, and often in Palestine when our idolatries brought upon us the curse of Heaven and the slavery of man.—P.

5 Let^h them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

h 1 Co.16.22. Ps.6.10; 35.27; 21.8-12; 48.3-7; 83.9-18. Is.37.34-38. Je.l.li. Re.vi.xviii.xvi. Es.vii.ix.

6 Letⁱ them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up;²

i Ps.37.2; 73.19; 92.7; 58.9. Mat.13.6,21.

2 The roofs of all eastern houses are flat, and covered with clay pressed down and carefully rolled. In early spring grass shoots up upon it luxuriantly; but as the season advances, and the rain ceases, the sun scorches it, and it withers more rapidly than it grew.—P.

7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

8 Neither do they which go by say, ^jThe blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.³

j Ru.2.4. Ps.118.26.

3 It is the universal practice in Palestine when passing a field of reapers, to address them with a blessing. The words usually employed at the present day are those in this verse. The meaning evidently is that such a blessing could never be given to those cutting the withered grass on the housetop. It would be a mockery.—P.

Notes

Ver. 1. The now here, as in Ps. 124. 1, refers to no particular time in the history of Israel; but was true at all times since Israel was first persecuted by Esau. And surely till the end, 'all who live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution,' 2 Ti. 3. 12. C.

Ver. 2. Prevailed. That is, they have not prevailed to lead Israel into apostasy, as Midian, Nu. 25. 2, 3, and afterwards Antiochus, severally attempted—nor have they prevailed to extirpate the nation, as Haman sought, and several Gentile nations have since endeavoured. C.

Reflections.—In every age the seed of the serpent has raged in enmity against Jesus Christ and his church. There is no going honourably to heaven but through great tribulation. But let the wicked lay their plots, and execute them as they will, God will deliver all who accept Christ; and unbelievers shall plunge themselves at last into the most dreadful disappointment and ruin. The curse of God shall blast them, with all their schemes and attempts.