Bible Studies:What does Psalm chapter 129 mean?
Chapter Context
This is one of the songs "of ascents" and is also identified as an imprecatory psalm (Psalms 5; 10; 17; 35; 58; 59; 69; 70; 79; 83; 109; 137; 140). It looks back on Israel's history of suffering and prays for defeat and humiliation for their enemies. Many of these songs "of ascents" (Psalms 120—134) were composed after the people returned from exile in Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:17–21; Ezra 2:1). The nation had also been afflicted by others (Judges 2:16–19; 2 Chronicles 28:18; Ezekiel 25:12), since their earliest days (Exodus 1:8–14; 17:8). Yet God preserved the people through hard times (Jeremiah 29:12–14).
What does Psalm chapter 129 mean?
Israelites heading to Jerusalem for required festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16) used certain psalms as they climbed the hills towards the city. Those passages are called songs "of ascents" (Psalms 120—134). In this example, we find language typical of the "imprecatory" psalms. These call for the Lord to bring some specific hurt on an enemy. Imprecations usually refer to defeat or shame (Psalm 17:13; 35:4–6). Others are much more aggressive (Psalm 58:6–9; 137:8–9).
The psalmist looks back on a history of near-constant oppression and hardship at the hands of enemies. This seems to have applied both personally and with respect to the nation of Israel. The Jewish people have nearly always been under attack by one adversary or another (Exodus 1:8–14; 17:8; Judges 2:16–19; 2 Chronicles 28:18; 36:17–20; Ezekiel 25:12). This is compared to a farmer's field, where the plow makes long gouges in the soil. Israel's hardships have been long and consistent, with only minor relief, just as plowing is only interrupted long enough to turn around and begin the next row. The imagery also hints at scars on a person's back from whipping. Yet the Lord has kept the nation alive (Jeremiah 29:10–14) during these hard times (Psalm 129:1–4).
In the imprecatory phase of this song, the psalmist hopes for hateful enemies to experience humiliation and defeat. Zion (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1) is a byword for Jerusalem, and both can generally refer to the nation of Israel. The opponents in mind here are those who hate the Jewish people. Sadly, this attitude has run rampant in the world for thousands of years. The psalmist asks that these haters be as unproductive as weeds growing on a roof, which are shriveled up by the sun. Further, the writer rejects granting the wicked even polite social greetings (Numbers 6:22–26; 1 Samuel 15:13) which evoke blessings from God (Psalm 129:5–8).
