Psalm 129 — Resilient Faith —  Aneel Aranha  

“They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
let Israel say;
“they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.
Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
But the LORD is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”
May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.
May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;
a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
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.”

The Psalms run a gamut of human emotions, ranging from exuberant joy to profound sorrow. In Psalm 129, the psalmist expresses resilience in the face of adversity. He begins by acknowledging: "They have greatly oppressed me from my youth." However, he then continues defiantly: "But they have not gained the victory over me" (Psalm 129:2). 

He continues with vivid imagery, comparing the oppression he has faced with furrows plowed on his back by wicked people. Furrows are the long trenches farmers make in the ground in preparation for planting seeds. Yet, even in this painful imagery, there's an underlying message of hope. The oppressors have not, and will not, have the last word. 

We all face challenges in our lives, we all face difficulties. Whether it's personal struggles, injustice meted out on us by society, or global calamities, there are moments when we feel the weight of "furrows" being plowed on *our* backs. Yet, Psalm 129 reminds us that these moments of adversity do not define our story. Our resilience in the face of these challenges, fortified by our faith, does.

Consider Paul. In his letter to the Corinthians, he lists a litany of sufferings he has undergone. He writes: I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. 

I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Wow! Did you think you had it difficult?

Yet, Paul's focus isn't on the suffering itself but on the surpassing power of Christ in him. He famously writes, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Like the psalmist, Paul acknowledges the reality of suffering but refuses to be defined by it.

The message to us is clear: adversity will come, but it does not have the final say. Our faith gives us the strength to rise, to heal, and to move forward. The furrows may be deep, but they are not eternal. Let them bear witness to our faith.

God bless you.