“They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young”
—this is how Israel tells it--
“They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young,
but they never could keep me down.
Their plowmen plowed long furrows
up and down my back;
Then God ripped the harnesses
of the evil plowmen to shreds.”
Psalm 129:1-4 (Message) If anyone had the right to talk about being bullied and kicked around, it was the Israelites. Time and time again they were enslaved, hated, and oppressed. It's no wonder they sung about it on their pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem. What about you my friend? Have you been abused? Do you have enemies that stomp all over you every chance they get? Are you feeling beat up? Then you can probably relate to this song.
We all have enemies. Some of them we can actually see, others fight us in the spiritual realm. These enemies are our oppressors. They seek to attack, persecute and take away our freedom. According to this psalm, they plow furrows into our backs. I don't know about you, but that is a disturbing word picture for me. Yet, it's true isn't it? They knock us down and plow over our backs trying to constrain us and tie us into knots. The question is, are we going to stay there? Are we going to remain under oppression? Are we going to allow them to have a victory?
If we want to have victory over the oppression of our enemies, it is important to remember some major points.
1. The Psalm points out that God is our protector. You will see that He ripped the harnesses out of their hands and tore them to shreds. In other words, while it may seem like our oppressors have momentary victory, the truth is that God will frustrate their efforts. He does this out of love. Always remember that our true defense is God and God alone. (Feel free to praise the Lord right now.)
2. God is righteous and loyal to His beloved children. Because of His loyalty, we can be assured that we can leave all vindication in His hands. This is a crucial point in the healing process. If we seek vindication ourselves, we will not experience healing of our hearts and our minds and our behaviors. Furthermore, if we hang onto a need for vindication then we run the risk of moving from being oppressed to becoming an oppressor ourselves. Allow God to do a deep work of healing in your life and leave the rest to him.
3. Patience will lead to perseverance. Perseverance will lead to a final and complete victory for us. However, perseverance will not be the result of our own determination or power, but of God's faithfulness. He alone can cut the bonds our oppressors have on us through His supernatural power. It is God's great love for us that will turn the tables on our enemies. If we remain in His Word and obediently walk with Him daily, our plowed up back will be come fertile ground for the seeds that God will sow in our lives. What kind of seed will that be? Why an acorn of course:
...to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion--
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)
Journaling Prompts
1. Read Psalm 129:5-8. How will God deal with those who oppress His children? How does this affect you?
2. Think about times when God has been loyal to you in the past. Write about them and let them give you encouragement as you face your current battles.
3. Write about your own experiences of oppression. What action is God directing you to take right now?
—this is how Israel tells it--
“They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young,
but they never could keep me down.
Their plowmen plowed long furrows
up and down my back;
Then God ripped the harnesses
of the evil plowmen to shreds.”
Psalm 129:1-4 (Message) If anyone had the right to talk about being bullied and kicked around, it was the Israelites. Time and time again they were enslaved, hated, and oppressed. It's no wonder they sung about it on their pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem. What about you my friend? Have you been abused? Do you have enemies that stomp all over you every chance they get? Are you feeling beat up? Then you can probably relate to this song.
We all have enemies. Some of them we can actually see, others fight us in the spiritual realm. These enemies are our oppressors. They seek to attack, persecute and take away our freedom. According to this psalm, they plow furrows into our backs. I don't know about you, but that is a disturbing word picture for me. Yet, it's true isn't it? They knock us down and plow over our backs trying to constrain us and tie us into knots. The question is, are we going to stay there? Are we going to remain under oppression? Are we going to allow them to have a victory?
If we want to have victory over the oppression of our enemies, it is important to remember some major points.
1. The Psalm points out that God is our protector. You will see that He ripped the harnesses out of their hands and tore them to shreds. In other words, while it may seem like our oppressors have momentary victory, the truth is that God will frustrate their efforts. He does this out of love. Always remember that our true defense is God and God alone. (Feel free to praise the Lord right now.)
2. God is righteous and loyal to His beloved children. Because of His loyalty, we can be assured that we can leave all vindication in His hands. This is a crucial point in the healing process. If we seek vindication ourselves, we will not experience healing of our hearts and our minds and our behaviors. Furthermore, if we hang onto a need for vindication then we run the risk of moving from being oppressed to becoming an oppressor ourselves. Allow God to do a deep work of healing in your life and leave the rest to him.
3. Patience will lead to perseverance. Perseverance will lead to a final and complete victory for us. However, perseverance will not be the result of our own determination or power, but of God's faithfulness. He alone can cut the bonds our oppressors have on us through His supernatural power. It is God's great love for us that will turn the tables on our enemies. If we remain in His Word and obediently walk with Him daily, our plowed up back will be come fertile ground for the seeds that God will sow in our lives. What kind of seed will that be? Why an acorn of course:
...to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion--
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)
Journaling Prompts
1. Read Psalm 129:5-8. How will God deal with those who oppress His children? How does this affect you?
2. Think about times when God has been loyal to you in the past. Write about them and let them give you encouragement as you face your current battles.
3. Write about your own experiences of oppression. What action is God directing you to take right now?