Read Psalm 129 at Bible Gateway.
The paragraph divisions:
1 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,” Let Israel now say—
2 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long.”
4 The Lord is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.
5 Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back.
6 Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up,
7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms.
8a Neither let those who pass by them say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; {n}
8b We bless you in the name of the Lord!” {p}
I cannot see the structure this morning. I don’t doubt there is one, since there has been one for every other psalm so far. But as I was thinking about this psalm’s message, I noticed that being the Lord’s chosen people (that’s me and you folks!) does not stop affliction from happening to us. It seems that instead, we become the special target of the wicked, and those who hate Zion, for affliction. However, if you are in the middle of affliction, take heart. They will not prevail against you, and the righteous Lord will cut in pieces the cords with which they are trying to bind you! ♥
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