Psalm 129
"Much have they oppressed me since my youth," * let Israel say,
"Much have they oppressed me since my youth, * but they have not overcome me.
Upon my back the plowmen plowed; * upon it they made their furrows long."May Yahweh the Upright snap * the yoke of the wicked!
May they retreat in disgrace, * all who hate Zion!
May they be like grass on the housetops, * which in front of the plucker withers away,
so that the reaper cannot fill his hand, * nor the gatherer of grain collect a load,
nor passers by say, * "Yahweh's blessing be yours; * We bless you in the name of Yahweh!"
1. A gradual canticle.
129:0 This is Psalm 129, the 10th of the Gradual Psalms, and the fifth and last of those which have to do with progress in doing good. For someone who wants to progress must first have a firm purpose (Ps 125), then have joy (Ps 126), hope and confidence (Ps 127), [diligence and fear of the Lord (Ps 128)], and finally by way of consummation, strong patience in adversity —James1:4 Let patience have its full effect.
After the title, the Psalm is divided into two parts: He shows [(1) constancy in persecution by the wicked, (2) the punishment of the wicked: "May Yahweh the upright"], (1) the frequent tribulations that come from enemies, (2) the fraudulence of his attackers: "Upon my back", (3) the intensity of the tribulations: "upon it they made". In the first, he expresses (1) the frequency of tribulation which just men suffered from the enemies of the Church from the beginning, (2) the frustration of his persecutors: "but they have not overcome". In the first, he shows how his attackers (1) took away good, (2) inflicted evil: "Much have they oppressed".
Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say.
"Much have they oppressed me since my youth," let Israel say,129:1.1.1.1 The idea is: It is necessary for God to build and for God to preserve; otherwise we cannot stand. Yet let no one despair of me. Rather, let Israel, the people formed to see, say now, because it will be unnecessary to say it in the future, "Much have they oppressed me since my youth". This is (1) the devil —Rev 12:13 The dragon pursued the woman who had born a male child. —1 Pet 5:8 Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. (2) the heretic —Gen 19:4 The house of Lot, who is Christ bending down to us, since "Lot" means "bending", was besieged by the Sodomites. The Sodomites are heretics because they sin against nature, against the human or divine nature of Christ. (3) the tyrant —Job 1:17 The Chaldeans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels, which are humble and obedient. (4) the false brother —Cant 1:6 My brothers have been angry with me.
And that has been often, since my youth, for the Church has been embattled by those for since it began. When it was still young, that is, in Abel —Job 24:14 The murderer rises in the dark, that he may kill the poor and needy. Later, we read that Ishmael persecuted Isaac (Gen 21), and Esau Jacob (Gen 27). The Israelites suffered persecution from the Egyptians, who provoked them to bitterness of soul (Ex 1). Therefore it is said —Sir 2:1 My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation.
2. Often have they fought against me from my youth:
"Much have they oppressed me since my youth,129:1.1.1.2 Secondly, they fought me by taking my goods, and also much have they oppressed me by inflicting evil. —Rev 12:13 After the woman bore a male child, as soon as anyone begins to make a good purpose of action, the dragon begins to attack him. In the beginning it was said —Gen 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman. —Sir 40:1 A heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day they come forth from their mother's womb till the day they return to the mother of all. —Job 7:1 Man's life on earth is a struggle.
but they could not prevail over me.
but they have not overcome me.129:1.1.2 After a description of the attack, there comes the frustration of the attackers. The idea is: They fought me, but they have not overcome me, because God preserved me. —Sir 4:28 Even to the death fight for truth, and Yahweh your God will battle for you. —Cant 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love. —Rom 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing, if we want. Therefore John said —1 John 2:13 I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. —Heb 11:33 The saints through faith conquered kingdoms. Moreover, they have grown and multiplied —Mt 16:18 The gates of hell will not prevail against it.
3. The wicked have wrought upon my back:
Upon my back the plowmen plowed;129:1.2 Here is the fraudulence of the attackers. The idea is: They fought me frequently and they fought me fraudulently, because upon my back, hidden, and not in front, the plowmen plowed. Such people are persecutors —Sir 11:33 Avoid a wicked man, for he breeds only evil. —Ez 21:36 I will hand you over to ravaging men, artisans of destruction. —Job 13:4 You whitewash with lies. And in spite of their hostile intention, saints rise up as most glorious and expanded vases. —Ps 4:1 In a jam, clear my way (Vul: In tribulation you expanded me). —Rom 5:3—4 Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces tested virtue. —Is 54:16 I have created the craftsman who blows on the burning coals and forges weapons as his work.
they have lengthened their iniquity.
upon it they made their furrows long."129:1.3 Thirdly, there is the intensity of the tribulations. The idea is: The wicked plowed my back, and made their furrows long. —Is 5:18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood. Another interpretation: They put their iniquity far away from me, for great iniquity is far from the just. —Jer 2:5 They went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless.
4. The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners:
May Yahweh the Upright snap the yoke of the wicked!129:2.1 After talking about constancy in persecutions by the wicked, here he speaks of the punishment that will be given to them by God the judge. There are three points: (1) their humiliation in death, (2) their shame in judgment: "May they retreat in disgrace", (3) their eternal damnation in hell: "May they be like grass". The idea is: They persecuted from the beginning and could not prevail, nor will they always persecute, because Yahweh is Upright —Jer 12:1 You are just, Yahweh, when I complain to you. And you instruct diligently —Ps 11:8 Yahweh the just loves just deeds, and justly orders and disposes everything. He will break the pride of sinners who persecute us. For the neck stands for pride —Job 15:26 They ran against him with their necks lifted up (Vul). But the Lord will break and humble it. —Job 13:12 Your defences (Vul: necks) are of clay, however high they are raised. —Job 20:6—7 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, he will perish for ever like his own dung. The word snap is very good, because the necks of the proud cannot bend, so they have to be broken. —Is 10:33 The great in height will be hewn down.
5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.
May they retreat in disgrace, all who hate Zion!129:2.2 Here is their shame in judgment. This is (1) stated as a wish; (2) the reason is given: "and turned back". The idea is: Their necks will be broken in death, and at the general judgment they will be put to shame —Hosea 10:6 Ephraim shall be put to shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol. —Jer 17:18 Let those be put to shame who persecute me.
The reason for their shame is their knowledge of their defect and impotence, after previously appearing powerful. The idea is: Let them be confounded, and turned back, so that their impotency may appear (says the Gloss), after previously seeming to be important. All who hate Zion are those who hate the Church and the congregation of the just —Ps 40:14 Let those be sent back with dishonor who wish me evil. —Jer 7:24 They went backward and not forward.
6. Let them be as grass upon the tops of houses: which withereth before it be plucked up:
May they be like grass on the housetops, which in front of the plucker withers away,129:2.3.1 Here is their eternal damnation, with (1) its cause or reason, which is their transitory prosperity, and (2) the damnation itself: "so that the reaper". The idea is: Let their necks be broken in death, let them be shamed in the query of the last judgment, and let them be in this life like grass on the housetops. He is talking about the roofs in Palestine, which are flat and often have grass growing on them. It often withers before it is picked or can be used for anything. —Is 28:1 Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of its glorious beauty. —Ps 37:2 For like grass soon they will wither, and like green herbs fade away. —James 1:11 Its flower falls and its beauty perishes. —Sir 10:10 A king today — tomorrow he is dead. See how fast he dries up!
7. Who with the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom.
so that the reaper cannot fill his hand, nor the gatherer of grain collect a load,129:2.3.2.1 Here is the eternal damnation following upon that brief time of prosperity. There is their exclusion (1) from eternal life, (2) from present grace: "nor passers by say". In the first, there is (1) a hint of their deprivation of that escort or being carried to glory by the holy angels who gather and harvest, (2) their deprivation of going there: "nor the gatherer". The idea is: They will quickly be cut down by death and become like dried grass with which the reaper cannot fill his hand. The reapers are the angels at the end of time, when they have the command to reap everyone. —Mt 13:30 Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned. Do not bundle them in your hands to present to me. —Rev 14:15 Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.
And the gatherer of the just did not fill is bosom with them and place them in glory. On this bosom —Is 40:11 He will gather the lambs in his bosom. —Luke 16:22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom, like grain to the barn. —Mt 13:30 Gather the wheat into my barn.
8. And they that passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.
nor passers by say, "Yahweh's blessing be yours; We bless you in the name of Yahweh!"129:2.3.2.2 Here is shown their exclusion from grace at the present time, because they are not blessed by the saints (1) in their deeds, (2) in themselves. The idea is: Let them be excluded from eternal life. Also there are passers by who cross this present life as if it is alien to them —Sir 29:36 Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have. And of the Apostles it is said —Acts 8:4 They went about preaching the word. These passers by do not say to them as they work, "Yahweh's blessing be yours". For there it was the custom for passers by to greet workers and wish them God's help. Thus Boaz said to the reapers —Ruth 2:4 Yahweh be with you.
We bless you yourselves in the name of Yahweh!", as Jacob blessed his son Joseph. This deprivation of blessing was fulfilled in the worst Jews, and is being fulfilled every day in those who reject the word of God. For holy preachers do not bless their works nor their persons, but must leave them, as was commanded in Mt 10:14 / Luke 9:5. That is what the Apostles did —Acts 13:46 Since you reject te word of God and thus convict yourselves as unworthy of everlasting life, we now turn to the Gentiles. But they bless those who assent to piety, wishing them grace. May he lead us to that, who is blessed for all ages.
Note that by its adversaries (1) the Church is lifted up —Gen 7:17 The flood waters bore up the ark. (2) It is multiplied —Ex 1:12 The Israelites afflicted by the Egyptians multiplied. —John 12:24 If a grain of wheat dies, it bears much fruit. (3) It spreads —Ps 4:2 In tribulation you expanded me (Vul). —Is 60:5 Your heart shall thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you. (4) It is strengthened —Heb 11:34 They became mighty in war. —Rom 5:3 Suffering produces patience. —Is 54:16 I have created the craftsman who blows on the burning coals and forges weapons as his work. (5) It is nourished —Job 10:15 If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look upon my affliction. (6) It is made rich —Job 37:22 Out of the north comes golden splendor. (7) It is made more prudent —Is 28:19 Vexation gives understanding (Vul). (8) It is forced to go to God —Ps 16:4 Their infirmities are multiplied (Vul). —Gregory: The evils which press on us here force us to go to God.