Psalm 129:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.

NIV: "they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.

NASB: 'Many times they have attacked me from my youth up; Yet they have not prevailed against me.

CSB: Since my youth they have often attacked me, but they have not prevailed against me.

NLT: From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me.

KJV: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.

NKJV: “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me.

This continues a statement claiming a long, intense pattern of persecution (Psalm 129:1). Throughout Israel's existence, it was subject to near-constant threats and attacks. They were slaves in Egypt (Exodus 1:8–14). Enemies attacked them during the exodus (Exodus 17:8). There were cycles of slavery and oppression (Judges 2:16–19). Powerful nations sent invaders (Isaiah 36—37) and even carried the people into exile (2 Chronicles 36:17–21). Even in Jesus' era, the Jewish people lived under the control of foreign nations such as Greece and Rome.

As this psalm continues, it will poetically describe this persistent abuse (Psalm 129:3), then pray for Israel's enemies to face shame and loss (Psalm 129:4–7). Even polite public greetings are too much for the psalmist to offer such adversaries (Psalm 129:8)

Psalm 129:1–4 looks back on persecution and hardship. Both the psalmist and the nation of Israel have a history of being victimized (Exodus 1:8–14; Judges 2:16–19; 2 Chronicles 36:17–21). This is compared to the way fields are plowed with long, ongoing channels torn into the soil. Yet the Lord did not allow this to last forever; those bindings were cut so Israel could live on (Ezra 2:1).

The psalmist reflects on the nation of Israel, which has always been persecuted and attacked (Exodus 1:8–14; Judges 2:16–19; 2 Chronicles 36:17–21). Despite this, God preserved the people (Jeremiah 29:12–14; Ezra 2:1). This psalm includes a prayer that those who despise Israel—identified with Mount Zion (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1)—would be defeated (Genesis 12:1–3). The psalmist sees no reason to offer them God's blessing, even in a casual greeting.

This is one of the songs "of ascents" and is also identified as an imprecatory psalm (Psalms 5; 10; 17; 35; 58; 59; 69; 70; 79; 83; 109; 137; 140). It looks back on Israel's history of suffering and prays for defeat and humiliation for their enemies. Many of these songs "of ascents" (Psalms 120—134) were composed after the people returned from exile in Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:17–21; Ezra 2:1). The nation had also been afflicted by others (Judges 2:16–19; 2 Chronicles 28:18; Ezekiel 25:12), since their earliest days (Exodus 1:8–14; 17:8). Yet God preserved the people through hard times (Jeremiah 29:12–14).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 12/4/2024 3:36:49 AM