< PreviousPsalm 129 1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say; 2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. 3 Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. 4 But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.” 5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame. 6 May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow; 7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it, nor one who gathers fill his arms. 8 May those who pass by not say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”A CLOSER LOOK: Psalm 129 could be considered a song of community thanksgiving, as the people remembered the ways in which God has faithfully sustained his people (129:2). Israel’s oppression was seemingly never ending, but time and again God was faithful. The suffering endured by Israel was so extreme, the psalmist compares it to oxen pulling a plow along the backs of the people (129:3). Nevertheless, God in his righteous judgment delivered Israel from the binds of oppression by their enemies (129:4). There is likely a symbolic connection between the plow and the cords of the wicked, claiming that God has broken the cords of the plower’s harness, which were keeping them under subjugation. The prayer in the following verses is for God to bring justice on the enemies of Israel. “Grass on the roof” seems like an odd analogy to draw, but often grass seed would blow in the wind and settle on roof tops and begin to sprout (129:6). The grass roots would be insignificant enough to sustain life and end up withering in the heat of the sun. Just as the grass on the roof, those who do not root themselves in God’s love will not stand against the pressures of life. CONTEXT: Micah 3:9-12, Exodus 1:11-14, 2 Kings 19:25-26, 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, Ephesians 3:14-19DAY 1 REVIEW: What does this Psalm teach us about God? What does this Psalm teach us about people? DAY 2 REFLECT: How has God been faithful to you recently? What truths have you been introduced to or reminded of this week? DAY 3 REFOCUS: How is God lifting your head with hope this week? What does God have set before you that might be challenging? DAY 4 RESPOND: How are you being prompted to respond to God this week? How are you being prompted to respond to others this week? DAY 5 REAFFIRM: What area of your life do you need to commit to growth? What truths do you need to remind yourself of this week? This week in Psalm 129Notes: Prayer God, YOU ARE: THANK YOU FOR: FORGIVE ME FOR: HELP ME WITH: AmenPsalm 130 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. 7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.A CLOSER LOOK: Psalm 130 is a personal lament, expressing repentance and trust in God’s mercy. The purpose of this lament is to help the pilgrims view themselves as forgiven people as they travel to Jerusalem to worship. The psalmist walks through four stages of repentance; misery over committed sin (130:1-2), confession of sin (130:3-4), hope in God’s faithfulness (130:5-6), and assurance of God’s redemptive mercy (130:7-8). The reason for the cries of mercy is unspecified, but there is a sense of urgency involved (130:1). This urgency brings about a recognition that forgiveness is certainly necessary, as the psalmist admits that were God to keep a record of our sin there is nothing we could do to stand before the throne and absolve ourselves (130:3). We should note that forgiveness here leads to the fear of God, and fearing God includes both worship and obedience (130:4). Because Israel is fully dependent on God’s mercy, they wait for his redemption expectantly, as the watchmen does at the walls of the city (130:6). The redemption God offered Israel was plentiful and realized time and time again throughout Israel’s history, but this redemption is ultimately pointing to the redemptive work of Christ to come (130:7-8). CONTEXT: Lamentations 3:55-66, 2 Chronicles 6:36-42, Psalm 103:1-12, Romans 3:21-26, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21DAY 1 REVIEW: What does this Psalm teach us about God? What does this Psalm teach us about people? DAY 2 REFLECT: How has God been faithful to you recently? What truths have you been introduced to or reminded of this week? DAY 3 REFOCUS: How is God lifting your head with hope this week? What does God have set before you that might be challenging? DAY 4 RESPOND: How are you being prompted to respond to God this week? How are you being prompted to respond to others this week? DAY 5 REAFFIRM: What area of your life do you need to commit to growth? What truths do you need to remind yourself of this week? This week in Psalm 130Notes: Prayer God, YOU ARE: THANK YOU FOR: FORGIVE ME FOR: HELP ME WITH: AmenPsalm 131 1 My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.A CLOSER LOOK: Another psalm of David, this short poem is focused on the child- like trust God desires from his people. David begins by stating that he has not been proud or arrogant (131:1), a posture of heart that is antithetical to the ways of God (James 4:6). God wants us to approach him with the humility of a child. David goes on to use an image of a child with their mother to describe his relationship with God, specifically a child that’s been weaned from the mother’s milk (131:2). Notice that David chose this stage of childhood to describe his soul. Infants are utterly dependent on their mother to sustain them. This is not to say we shouldn’t be dependent on God, certainly we should. Rather, David is discussing spending time with God in perfect contentment, not wanting or needing anything from him, simply enjoying God’s presence. David is resting in God. Babies are always demanding more from their mother, but toddlers want to be with their mothers, because they understand the immense love their mom has for them. CONTEXT: Matthew 5:25-30, Romans 12:14-18, Job 42:3, Matthew 18:2-5Next >