PSALM 129

Psalms 129:1-8 . The people of God, often delivered from enemies, are confident of His favor, by their overthrow in the future.

1, 2. may Israel now say--or, "oh! let Israel say" ( Psalms 124:1 ). Israel's youth was the sojourn in Egypt ( Jeremiah 2:2 , Hosea 2:15 ).

2. prevailed--literally, "been able," that is, to accomplish their purpose against me ( Psalms 13:4 ).

3, 4. The ploughing is a figure of scourging, which most severe physical infliction aptly represents all kinds.

4. the cords--that is, which fasten the plough to the ox; and cutting denotes God's arresting the persecution;

5, 6. The ill-rooted roof grass, which withers before it grows up and procures for those gathering it no harvest blessing ( Ruth 2:4 ), sets forth the utter uselessness and the rejection of the wicked.