0574. Israel's Distress-Afflicted

Israel’s Distress-Afflicted

"Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

"Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me" (Psa_129:1-2).

Once more we see Israel in distress–afflicted.

This Psalm graphically describes the afflictions which have followed Israel from the beginning–from her youth, but it culminates in the afflictions which shall come in the hour of Jacob’s trouble.

"The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows" (Psa_129:3). How startling the revelation of anguish we discover in this metaphor. You have a picture of Israel lying prone upon her face; her enemies with maddened fury, driving their sharpened plows over her back. The furrows are long and deep; the anguish bitter. Yet the Lord will cut asunder the cords of the wicked. He will confound them. He will turn them back. Those who hate Zion shall be as grass upon the housetops, which withereth before it groweth up.

As the nations have tormented Israel, so shall they be tormented. They shall eat of the cup which they poured out for her anguish.

God knows the afflictions of His people.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR