Psalms 129:1

Psalms 129:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is identified as another song of degrees, then verse one says, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Matthew Henry says this psalm relates to public concerns for Israel and was probably written when the people of Israel were captive in Babylon or shortly after their return.  The church, like Israel, has often been distressed by the world, throughout the ages.  Verse two adds, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.  Just as the psalmist said about Israel, we as the church, the followers of Christ, have been distressed by the world through the ages, but the world has never and will never prevail.  Verse three continues, The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.  Though as Matthew Henry says, we might say the rod was on their back, the meaning is the same.  The people of Israel, God's chosen people, were treated cruelly by other nations throughout the ages, so we should not be surprised if we are as Christians today.  Verse four declares, The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  The psalmist said that God is righteous and had cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  God will always be righteous and will always cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  Verse five adds, Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.  We need tto pray as they did then that God will confound the wicked who fight against us today.  Verse six states, Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:  The psalmist asked that the enemies of Israel wither away like the grass on the rooftop.  Verse seven adds, Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.  I don't believe that we should pray that our enemies starve, but we should pray that they not be successful against us, while still praying for their salvation.  Verse eight continues, Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.  The rest of the world will never go by blessing the people of the church, but we should never be remiss in praising God for His blessings.