Devo 10: Psalm 129
They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth
A Song of Ascents.
129 “Greatly[a] 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!”
Devotional Thought:
This psalm is penned by someone who has experienced much horrible oppression, even from a young age (v.1-2). Yet in the end, the evil oppressor did not win (v.2b) but his righteous God saved him from oppression (v. 4). The rest of the psalm reads as an imprecatory prayer against the oppressor who we’re told hates God and his people (v.5 “hate Zion”), a prayer asking for God to judge these people. That they would be put to shame and their efforts that oppression would cease (v.5-7). And ultimately even that they would not have or know the blessing of God but only curses! (v.8)
It can be hard to read that, you might think to yourself, “Aren’t we supposed to pray for our enemies not to ask God to curse them?” That is true, we are to pray for the good and salvation of others. And it’s important to remember that all of us were once considered those who oppose God but by his grace, who now been made friends and children of God because Christ paid for our evil and oppression on the Cross. As Christians who follow a just God, we are also called to care for justice and it is not wrong but right to pray for justice, and for God to do what’s right in stopping oppression. Today we can both love our enemies and fight for justice knowing both please our God and He will do what is right in his own eyes.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray to You who are righteous and just to put an end to all evil, all hatred and oppression. We know your holy anger burns against the wicked who oppress the vulnerable and needy. Save us from those would wish us harm, especially because of our faith. And yet we know just as you had mercy on us, you wish to see many more turn from their wicked ways and embrace Your Son and your way of peace. Some of these things are too great and mysterious for us, we leave them in your hands and timing. Yet we do pray that you would help us to preach the Gospel to many that more would bow to King Jesus, and to also fight against injustice around us that is not of your Kingdom. By your grace, may we do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with You all the days of our lives. Amen.
