Reading the Word

Psalm 129:1–8 (ESV)

1 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—
let Israel now say—
2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,
yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back;
they made long their furrows.”
4 The LORD is righteous;
he has cut the cords of the wicked.
5 May all who hate Zion
be put to shame and turned backward!
6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
which 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,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the LORD!”

Understanding and Applying the Word

This psalm reflects the words of one who has been freed from oppression. The wicked have “afflicted” the psalmist from his youth, yet God has cut the cords and delivered the oppressed. The wicked are described as those who “hate Zion.” Zion is synonymous with Israel and God’s people, which also means that the oppressors hate God.

God’s people in every age face opposition. As those who represent the Lord and who carry the word of God to the world, the opposition is largely because the world has rejected God. Jesus tells his followers, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”

The Lord is the protector of the righteous and the oppressed. He will deliver his people and the wicked will be judged for their wickedness. Let us continue to trust in him and proclaim the message of Scripture to a world that desperately needs a Savior.

**Shaped by the Word is a daily Bible reading devotional. Please use the links at the bottom to subscribe to this page. You can also share this post with your friends through social media using the buttons below. Thanks for reading!