Walk Of Life – Day 1 March 2023 – Thoughts From The Book Of Psalms

Psalm 129 – Remembering The Persecution Of the Youth (For Disobedience)

This psalm is ninth in the series of Song of Ascents composed to remember God’s many past deliverances and to offer prayers in confidence to seek his continuous protection. Israel took the time of festive season to gather together as one nation to remember God’s favors and mercy which helped them to survive from the time they formed as a nation. Although it was disheartening for them to remember all the painful memories of the loss of loved ones, the destruction of the temple, city and the exile to Babylon, the singer took courage from the past, facing God with gratitude and their enemies with defiance.

From the time Jacob was named Israel, they formed to be a nation set apart for God. From their youth the persecutors tried to wipe them out.

• Egyptian –The Pharaohs after the death of Joseph tried to wipe out Jews by killing all the male child that was born, enslaved and mistreated them for 400 years. (Exodus 1:9-11,22)
• Canaanites – The Israelites were subject to King of Aram for eight year, Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years, Jabin King of Canaan for twenty years all because they did evil in the eyes of God. (Judges 3:8,14;4:3)
• Philistines – The Israelites were sold to the Philistines and Ammonites and were enslaved for eighteen years (Judges 10:7)
• Assyrians – King Shalmaneser of Assyria defeated King Hoshea of Israel and he deported the people to Assyria. (2 Kings 17:6)
• Babylonians – The LORD handed the Kingdom of Judah to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. (2 Chronicles 36:17 )

The Israelites secretly continued to do things that were not right against the LORD their God even though they were warned by seers and prophet to turn away from their evil ways, that’s why in the end He thrust them from his presence and they were exiled to Babylon.

• Mede/ Persia – Further during the exile, Israel came under the rule of the Medes under King Darius, son of Xerxes (Daniel 9:1) followed by Persian King Cyrus (Daniel 10:1). To fulfil the word of the LORD spoken by prophet Jeremiah, God moved the heart of King Cyrus who let the Jews go to their homeland to reconstruct the temple of the LORD.

Through this psalm, the nation expresses their heartfelt gratitude towards their God who did not let them to perish for their unfaithfulness. Though He punished, in his mercy He showed compassion and cut the repentant Israel free from the chords of the wicked. The Jewish nation survived the exile and learnt to be faithful to Yahweh the hard way.