Let us praise God for every victory he grants us. Psalm 129
When God fights our battles and puts all our enemies under our feet, we feel a deep joy in our hearts knowing that God grants us victory over our adversaries. Psalm 129 is a song of joy that highlights the victory that God grants the people of Israel over their enemies. In the same way, the Christian can rejoice when God's hand brings down his enemy and grants him victory in the midst of so many threats and persecutions. A song of joy to God for the victory springs from the depths of the heart.
I have been greatly afflicted from my youth,
Israel can now say;
2 Much have they afflicted me from my youth;
But they prevailed not against me.
3 The plowers plowed on my back;
They made long furrows.
4 The Lord is righteous;
He has cut the snares of the wicked.
5 They shall be ashamed and turn back.
All those who hate Zion.
6 They shall be like the grass of the roofs
which withereth before it groweth up;
7 Of which the hand of the reaper is not filled.
nor he that bindeth sheaves his arms.
8 Nor did those who passed by say:
The blessing of the LORD be with you;
We bless you in the name of the LORD. Psalms 129 Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960).
Imagen source
Psalm 129 begins by expressing the moments of anguish experienced by the people of Israel, when they were just beginning their birth as a nation. Israel was anguished by the neighboring peoples who continually made war against them and tried to make them disappear from the land. God was always on the side of his people and when Israel cried out to God the Lord met them and fought their battles. There was never a lack of enemies to challenge Israel, today, Israel is besieged by nations like Iran, who seek to wipe Israel off the map. All the life since Israel has been a nation, it has had peoples that have distressed it, however, Israel's enemies have never prevailed against it, because God, takes it upon Himself to fight its battle. The psalmist wrote:
I have been greatly distressed from my youth,
Israel can now say;
2 They have troubled me greatly from my youth;
But they have not prevailed against me. Psalm 129: 1-2
Imagen source
Both the people of Israel and the Lord's church have had enemies throughout history. Israel has always been a persecuted people as has the Lord's church, however, there is a great latent hope that God is just and fights on behalf of His people, both Israel and the Lord's church.
God will never allow the enemies of his people to have their way, but God goes ahead of events and causes the enemy to fall into his own trap. God is just and will continually shame the enemies of his people. All who hate Israel or the Lord's church will receive a just reward of punishment.
On my back the plowers plowed;
They made long furrows.
4 The Lord is just;
He has cut off the fetters of the wicked.
5 They shall be ashamed and shrink back
All who hate Zion. Psalm 129: 3-5
Imagen source
In God we will always have great and overwhelming victories over our enemies. All those who rise up against God's people, says the psalmist, "shall be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth and groweth not." We need not fear those who rise up against the children of God, their wickedness will never prosper, for God withers them immediately and makes them fruitless. We should rejoice and sing for joy to the God who gives us victory over those who oppose us. The psalmist said:
6 They shall be like the grass of the housetops
which withereth before it groweth up;
7 Of which the reaper has not filled his hand,
nor he who binds sheaves his arms. Psalm 129: 6-7
Imagen source
There are people who out of envy and zeal, do not greet or bless the children of God, however, the most important blessing comes from the Lord, which enriches and does not add sadness. God's command to his people is that we should bless all people regardless of color and race. The Lord said to Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you". We must see to it that there is in the mouth of every Christian a word of blessing so that God will back it up and bless those around us.
The peoples that surrounded Israel passed by and never said words of blessing, because of their hatred and contempt for the people of God, but the Israelites said: "We bless you in the name of the Lord.
8 Neither did those who passed by say:
The blessing of the Lord be with you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord. Psalm 129: 8
Imagen source