February 2
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THEY HAVE AFFLICTED ME FROM MY YOUTH
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—let Israel now say—
2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.”
4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.
5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!
6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,
7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand
Nor the binder of sheaves his arms,8 nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the LORD!” – Psalm 129:1-8
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This psalm is a song of ascents or a pilgrim song which reflects what God’s people have endured and how God has sustained them. Verse 2 “afflicted me from my youth” indicates the longsuffering and “yet they have not prevailed against me” shows that because God has been faithful to walk alongside with them, they have endured. The psalm shows the trust that the Israelites have for the Lord, knowing that he will defend them from all those who hate them or plan evil against them. Because of their dependence and faith on the Lord, we can see how they can ask the Lord such protection and know in their hearts that they will be heard and that they will be blessed just like how a child believes that their own parents would grant them their requests.
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ADORATION: Lord, you are magnificently omniscient and omnipotent. You are a great Father to all your children, providing and protecting all your loved ones.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I do not endure the trials that come my way and when I become proud and forget that it is you who defends me.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the opportunities you give me to constantly rely on you.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people bear all their trials and sufferings knowing that you have them covered and that you are in control. May we learn to let go of taking things into our own hands.
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REFLECTION
• How can we deepen our dependency on God in this very “self” focused world?