Finding Yourself in the Psalms

Psalm 129

A Psalm of Hope in Times of Testing

(Psalm 124)
" A song of ascents. Of David.
If the Lord had not been on our side—

let Israel say—

if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us,

they would have swallowed us alive;

the flood would have engulfed us, the

torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.

Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, the
Maker of heaven and earth."
(Psalm 129)
" A song of ascents.
They have greatly oppressed me from my youth—

let Israel say—

they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,

but they have not gained the victory over me.

Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.

But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.

May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame. May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow; with it the reaper cannot fill his hands, nor the one who gathers fill his arms. May those who pass by not say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.""

A Psalm of Hope in Times of Testing

ISLAM – Fatalism.
HINDUISM- You are DESTINED to the CASTE system. Your only hope is a better
REINCARNATION
DARWINISM- You’re part of an evolutionary chain. You’re no more significant than an
amoeba

Psalm 129 reminds us that GOD IS SOVEREIGN, even when we SUFFER

I. The LORD’S Protection for the Righteous. 129:1-4
A. Greatly oppressed.
1. Heb. “Sa rar” To wrap up, to bind up”
a. (Job 26:8) "He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight."
b. (Proverbs 30:4) "Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who

has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!"

c. Fits with verse 4. “He has cut me free from the cords fo the

wicked”

2. “They have not gained the victory over me”
a. Heb “Ya-kol”
b. “prevail, have victory, i.e., conquer a foe or opponent and so have victory, as an extension of being able or capable to actually accomplish something” Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains
B. Plowmen have plowed my back
1. Great distress
2. Affliction
3. Powerless to defend

4. (Isaiah 43:2) "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

C. God’s deliverance. 129:4
II. The Judgment of the Wicked. 129:6-8
A. No victory. (May those who hate Zion be turned back in shame”
B. No prosperity. (Grain on a roof)
C. No blessing. (May those who pass by not say “peace be upon you”)
III. Hope in Times of Testing
A. God is SOVEREIGN.
1. (Proverbs 16:4) "The Lord works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster."
2. (Psalm 24:1) "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and

all who live in it;"

3. (John 19:11) "Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”"
B. God Cares for Us in Times of Affliction
1. (2 Corinthians 1:4) "who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
C. God limits the affliction of the Enemy.
1. (1 Corinthians 10:13) "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
D. God will judge the wicked
E. God will reward the righteous
F. Nothing can interrupt God’s plan to use you for His glory
1. (Job 42:2) "“I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be

thwarted."

2. (Psalm 33:10) "The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples."
3. (Proverbs 10:3) "The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked."
4. (Isaiah 14:27) "For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"