Psalms 129

This Psalm contains a joyful and thankful remembrance of the Churches former and manifold calamities from barbarous enemies, and of Gods wonderful mercy in delivering them out of their hands.

MAny a time have they Mine enemies or oppressors; which is easily understood both from the nature of the thing, and from v. 3. where they are expressed under the name of plowers. afflicted me from my youth From the time that I was a people, when I was in Egypt and came out of it, which is called the time of Israels youth, Ier. 2. 2. Ezek. 23. 3., may Israel now say.

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

The plowers plowed upon my back They have not only thrown me down and trod me under foot, but have cruelly tormented me, wounded and mangled me, and had no more pity upon me than the plowman has upon the earth which he cuts up at his pleasure. He says, upon my back, either because they did literally scourge the Captives upon their backs with such cords as are mentioned v. 4. although we do not read that the Israelitish Captives were thus used by any of their enemies; or by way of allusion to that usage, which made a sort of furrows in their backs upon which they used to lay on their strokes.: they made long their furrows They oft repeated their injuries and prolonged my torments..

The LORD is righteous Faithful or merciful, as that word is frequently used.: he has cut asunder the cords Wherewith the plow was drawn; by which means they were stopped in their course. So he persists in the same Metaphor of a plough. By these cords he understands all their plots and endeavours. of the wicked.

Let them all be confounded and turned back Forced to retreat with shame and disappointment. that hate Zion.

Let them be as the grass upon the housetops Which there were flat, and therefore more capable of grass, or green corn growing between the stones, than ours are., which withereth afore it groweth up Which having no deep root, never comes to maturity. And so all their designs shall be abortive and never come to perfection..

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves, his bosom.

Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you Which was an usual salutation given by passengers to reapers, as Ruth 2. 4. So the meaning is, It never continues till the harvest comes.: we bless you in the name of the LORD.