A Prayer for Protection

Topic: Persecution
Passage: Psalms 129:1–8

July 29, 2019

Commentary

The church has been often greatly distressed by its enemies on earth: Israel may now say, “I am the people that has been oppressed more than any people, that has been as a speckled bird, pecked at by all the birds round about,” Jer. 12:9. It is true, they brought their troubles upon themselves by their sins; it was for them that God punished them; but it was for the peculiarity of their covenant, and the singularities of their religion, that their neighbors hated and persecuted them. The persecution of the psalmist is graphically illus­trated by a farm scene. Their backs were so sore (per­haps from beating) that they felt like plows digging into them (v. 3). He then says that he hopes his persecutors will not be around long. He hopes they will be like the grass that grows on the Middle Eastern homes after a rain. It withers before it really grows and thus no farmer bothers to harvest it or bind it into sheaves (v. 7). It is of no value, so no words of appreciation are expressed for it.  The point is that no one thanks God for a fistful of dried weeds and he hopes the wicked will wither and dry up.

In harvest time it was common for men to bless each other in the name of the Lord. As they would pass harvesters in the field they would say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you” (Ruth 2:4) The psalmist warns against pronouncing the blessing of the Lord upon everyone. Those who are living ungodly lives should never be told “God bless you,” for to do so is to ask for God’s assis­tance on their ungodliness (v. 8).

Application

Have each family member share what was the most diffi­cult time they have gone through. Did this get the best of them? God will never give me more than I can handle. (I Cor. 10:13) 

Psalms 129:1– 8 (NET)

1 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,” let Israel say.

2 “Since my youth they have often attacked me, but they have not defeated me.

3 The plowers plowed my back; they made their furrows long.

4 The Lord is just; he cut the ropes of the wicked.”

5 May all who hate Zion be humiliated and turned back.

6 May they be like the grass on the rooftops, which withers before one can even pull it up,

7 which cannot fill the reaper’s hand, or the lap of the one who gathers the grain.

8 Those who pass by will not say, “May you experience the Lord’s blessing! We pronounce a blessing on you in the name of the Lord.”