Psalm 129:2-8
‘Many a time have they afflicted me, from my youth! Yet, they have not prevailed against me!… The Lord is righteous; He has cut asunder the cords of the wicked! Let them all be confounded and turned back, that hate Zion! Let them be like the grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up!… They which go by, say: “The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you, in the name of the Lord!”‘ Psalm 129:2-8.
Calvin comments: “When God’s faithful ones are with difficulty drawing their breath…, it is a seasonable time for them to reflect on the manner in which He has exercised His people from the beginning and from age to age…. History certainly bears ample testimony that the people of God had to deal with not a few enemies…. They were assaulted by almost the whole world…. They were molested not only by external foes, but also by…such as professed to belong to the Church!”
‘They have afflicted me from my youth.’ Comments Calvin: “The term ‘youth’ here…refers…to the time when God…wearied Abraham and the Patriarchs…almost their whole life…. The lot of their descendants, was still worse…. Troubles and even defeats arose, which threatened the people of God with total destruction…. The Church would have been consumed a thousand times, had not God…preserved her, raising her as it were from the dead….
“‘All who hate Zion shall be confounded…. They shall be like the grass of the house-tops, which is withered (even) before it comes forth’…. The Prophet has…respect to the time to come…. It is certainly…very appropriate…to understand him as deriving…instruction…for…the end….
“The grass which grows upon the house-tops, is not…more valuable than the blade of corn which in the low ground is trampled under foot…. It is…unprofitable…. It quickly withers away…. Without the hand or labour of man, the grass on the house-tops is dried up…. The grass on the house-tops…withers and perishes at its first springing up, because it has no root under it nor earth to supply it with sap or moisture for its nourishment.
“Whenever then the splendour or greatness of our enemies strikes us with fear, let us bring to our recollection this comparison!… The grass which grows upon the house-tops…is yet without root, and consequently of brief duration. So these enemies, the nearer they approach the sun by the height of their pride — shall the sooner be consumed by the burning heat…. Although the wicked mount high…, yet they continue mere grass — not bringing forth any good fruit, nor reaching a state of
ripeness…. They serve to be hated or despised by all….
“Whenever there is a hopeful respect of a good harvest, we ought to beseech God Whose…province it is to impart fertility to the Earth that He would give full effect to His blessing…. Provided we not only dwell in the Church of the Lord, but also labour to have a place among the number of her genuine citizens — we will be able fearlessly to despise all the might of our enemies…. Although they may flourish…for a time, yet they are but barren grass on which the curse of Heaven rests!” For, though much afflicted by the ungodly — true believers are never prevailed against!
