Bible Commentaries
Psalms 129

Verses 1-8

Psalms 129

Afflictions Of the Wicked

Scripture v. 1-8:

Verses 1, 2 recount that many a time had the wicked afflicted Israel, from her youth, as a nation. The psalmist added, "may or let Israel now say, (witness for the coming generation) many a time have they (mine enemies) afflicted me from my youth, (from my early days of national life in Egypt); Yet they have not prevailed against me," or won the victory; it is not over yet, Ezekiel 23:3; Hosea 2:1-5; Hosea 11:1; Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 22:21; Psalms 124:1.

Verse 3 declares "The plowers plowed upon my back," or the tormentors, inhuman slave-oppressors, cut deep gashes, like furrows in a field, upon their backs while working them brutally. It is added "they made long their furrows," cutting long deep gashes in their backs, like plow-furrows in a field, 1 Samuel 14:14. Her words were, "I gave my back to the smiters," Isaiah 1:6, even as our Lord, Matthew 27:26.

Verse 4 asserts, "The Lord is righteous," in His acts, a basis of hope for faithful help and deliverance from Him, Romans 10:3-4. The psalmist added, "He hath cut asunder the cords (bondage ties) of the wicked," who did enslave Israel, Jeremiah 2:2; Ezekiel 23:3; Hosea 2:15; Hosea 11:1.

Verses 5-7 sound an imprecatory (judgment) prayer cry for the Lord to let all those who hate Zion (the city of God) be confounded, confused, and turned back from their oppression; and let them become withered like the dried grass on the housetops, that dries up before it is grown, has no roots, or soil to grow in, which the mower or reaper does not even attempt to gather, Psalms 37:2; Psalms 92:7; Jeremiah 17:5-6.

Verse 8 concludes "neither do they who go by," the wayfarer, poor reapers, Ruth 2:4. He adds, "the blessings (benediction) of the Lord is (exists) upon you," and "we bless you (who pass by) in the name of the lord," Psalms 118:26.