Psalm 129:1-8

Big Idea: This song reminds us that God is faithful to his covenant, even when it seems like he is not.

Introduction: We continue our series on the Psalms of Ascent, exploring how these psalms shaped the lives of Old Testament Israel and can still impact us today. The Psalms functioned as a songbook and prayer book:

Songbook: Music played a significant role in helping people remember, learn, and celebrate key aspects of their lives. It shaped both individual and communal identity.

Prayer book: The psalms guided Israel’s interaction with God, modeling prayers of praise, plea, mourning, and intercession.

These psalms were likely sung during pilgrimages to Jerusalem for feasts, highlighting various themes such as wisdom, lament, thanksgiving, and royal significance. The Psalms of Ascent reflect the daily struggle of living between two worlds—between our current reality and the full realization of God's kingdom.

Transition: In our text today, we are reminded that in this life, we will have trouble but we have a God who is faithfully able to keep us through it all.

Stanza 1: Psalm 129:1-4

Exegesis: Like the other Psalms, there is often a usage of language that expresses something to be true of everyone, but through the lens of an individual perspective. The song expresses in the first two verses the idea that all throughout the history of their people, there has been an ongoing sense of struggle and hardship. As you read through the history of OT Israel, it’s not difficult to see why this song resonates with the collective group. Whether through the attacks of other nations, or their own tendency to do exactly opposite of God desired of them, the people had experienced difficulties in great degree and extent.

*Express a little of the hostility the nations around them had towards them, Jonah’s defiance of going to a people hostile to them, and Haggai’s disbelief that God would use wicked Babylon as a source of judgement on his people.

The image of verse 3 is that of plowing a field and relating that to the hurt and pain they experienced as a people. Yet, the stanza ends with a note that should be explored: The Lord is righteous.

1.) A person characterized by being just in their actions, ethics, and morals. They are someone who does what is right at all times and in all situations. Who could possibly be this kind of person?

2.) Actions that are considered to flow out of what is the accepted standards of ethics and morality. What is the standard? This is the sense in this usage: The actions of the Lord are considered righteous, meaning that in the accepted understanding of keeping a right standard, God is righteous. But more than that, it points to His being as being righteous - thus able to do something in the midst of a broken and sinful situation.

Israel’s song thus declares that in the midst of hardship and suffering in a fallen world, the promises and faithfulness of God are not nullified. He has cut the cords, i.e., the ropes that often held oxen in place and rendered the attacks of the enemies as empty. Though real in pain and hurt, empty in the purpose of showing God to be faithless.

Application: Yet, it doesn’t feel empty to us as we both read this text and experience difficulties in our own lives. It can be tempting to read a text like this and feel that its distant and not something that readily applies to our own context. After all, we aren’t worried about another people group coming to attack and pillage our city.

Yet, the tone of the text reflects what is true about all people in all places - not always to same extent or degree, but real nonetheless.

What is that tone?

1.) It reminds us that ultimately, we are not in control of our own destinies because we live in a world that is broken by sin.

2.) It reminds us that hurting people hurt people. Or, broken people hurt other people.

3.) It reminds us that it can be difficult to see at times, but God is ever faithful and ever good.

Now, we live this in reverse. Because God is righteous, it means that in every situation He is able to faithfully execute his covenant promises (what this means relationally and eternally). It means that through his grace, we can move from hurting to helping. It means we can seek the good, true, and the beautiful in a world marred by sin.

Illustration: “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Stanza 2: Psalm 129:5-8

Exegesis: The song finishes with a second stanza that addresses how God’s people should handle those who are against them. The language is descriptive and intense, befitting how to handle an enemy. It begins with a defiant statement that expresses the desire that their enemies be thwarted and they experience guilt, remorse, and embarrassment over their actions. The image of grass is meant to reflect the shallow and ease with which it withers under the heat of the sun. There is no grass to gather or cut down. The song is describing what their enemy is ultimately like in light of God’s righteousness.

The people of God were to be a blessing to their neighbors and a light to the nations. Yet, a hard truth is expressed to those who reject God’s gracious offer of unfailing love - cursing instead of blessing. Blessing is the word often used to describe those who walk in awe of the Lord, trusting in his wisdom and grace. Judgment is often the least popular theological theme to consider but here it is a foundational reminder that the righteous actions of God go both ways - to those who trust and to those do not. To miss this is to have an incomplete view of the Lord.

Application: There are brothers and sisters in Christ across the world that live in constant fear of a real enemy that seeks to take their lives. As christians, again we can read this text and maybe skip over this last part because it feels distant. Yet, we face enemies everyday that seek to render the promises of God null and void in our lives. One of those is the devil, a real being that is the anti-Christ for our lives. Another of those is the world we live in that promotes priorities and values that often bump against what the Lord desires for his people. One other is the one that is closest to home for us all, and that is our own desires and ambitions.

1.) We are reminded that in light of the righteousness of God, we understand that the devil is ultimately defeated and his purposes will not stand.

2.) We are reminded that we are challenged everyday with a multitude of messages that often prioritize self over Christ. For example, we see the temptation to view our politics, jobs, accomplishments, and such as the ultimate measuring stick of what is good, true, and beautiful - even though we know its unable to deliver on that promise.

3.) We are reminded that our own desires and ambitions compound the problems of living in a fallen world. We measure the validity of truth through the lens of happiness as the ultimate goal.

Illustation: Orual in Till we Have Faces shows us a good example of what it means to accuse the gods and then be confronted with the reality of who God is.

This song smacks us with the unshakeable truth that the Lord is righteous. Yet, what terror this ought to bring into our souls. How can one stand if the Lord sees us as we are?

Christ Connection: Jesus is the hope and judge of this song. In him, he has overcome the world while breaking for good the cords of the wicked. In Christ we are free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and soon to be the presence of sin. This song points us to Jesus!