#881 Cut The Cords

“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—

let Israel now say—

2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,

yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back;

they made long their furrows.”

4 The Lord is righteous;

he has cut the cords of the wicked.

5 May all who hate Zion

be put to shame and turned backward!

6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops,

which withers before it grows up,

7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand

nor the binder of sheaves his arms,

8 nor do those who pass by say,

“The blessing of the Lord be upon you!

We bless you in the name of the Lord!” Psalm 129 ESV

A Psalm of Ascents.

Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth - From her beginning, the infancy of the nation of Israel, was conceived in the womb of adversity. Jacob fled from his brother, Esau, and when they met again Jacob was a broken but wiser man. He was chosen, not of merit, for he was a deceiver, but then deceived and cheated by his uncle. He wrestled with God, Who left him with a permanent limp, but changed his name to Israel. She came to be loathed in Egypt, made a slave, hated by the Moabites, oppressed by the Philistines, taken by the Assyrians. Judah was a captive of Babylon and Persia, then Rome. The Jews themselves have been scattered and hated by antisemitic groups like the Nazis, Islam, Communist and supremacist even in the United States. Hers has been a long rode with more affliction than peace, more captivity than freedom, yet once again there is a state called Israel.

Let Israel now say - Can I get a witness, an Amen.

Yet they have not prevailed against me - They are still singing, and the song writer is still praying all the many steps of this pilgrimage. God has held up a remnant no matter who the oppressor, no one has been able to remove them completely, not Hitler, Stalin or any other wicked leader to this day. David was hunted by Saul in his youth, yet God raised him up to be king.

…11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,… Colossians 1: 11-13

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.… Revelation 12: 13-15

…9 and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”… John 19: 9-11

The plowers plowed upon my back - What a picture, not only walked upon but with the intent of breaking. What may be intended in wickedness upon the backs of a nation, to take away the hope that they are yet still a nation, a people set apart, is not the breaking of the earth necessary to the harvest? I think of the back of my Lord, God in flesh, Jesus Christ, by Whose stripes we are healed, was He not wounded and marred beyond recognition? The seed and birth of the Church, what a marvelous day.

- They smite so as to plough into the man; they plough the quivering flesh as if it were clods of clay; they plough deep and long with countless furrows; until they leave no portion of the church unfurrowed or unassailed. Ah me! Well did Latimer say that there was no busier ploughman in all the world than the devil: whoever makes short furrows, he does not. Whoever balks and shirks, he is thorough in all that he does. Whoever stops work at sundown, he never does. He and his children plough like practised ploughmen; but they prefer to carry on their pernicious work upon the saints behind their backs, for they are as cowardly as they are cruel. C. H. Spurgeon

“A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13: 3-9

The Lord is righteous; He has cut the cords of the wicked - Even though the wicked plow, the Lord is just in allowing it. Was Israel not in covenant with God, "do this and you shall live?" She was an unfaithful spouse, and given over to the world, as she wanted nothing to do with God, but what He could do for her, yet for her sake He was pleased to crush Himself. He does not forget the nature of His own covenant and so He has chosen, prepared a Way, and calls them to the Way. It is in Christ that the cord between the plow and the slave is cut, whom the Son sets free shall be free in deed. The kingdom of God suffers much violence against it, but those who hate His people also hate Him, and He will rebuke them in their day. 

2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 

3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me” ? 

4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 

5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 

6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. 

7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, Romans 11: 2-7

May all who hate Zion - Be sure, God is faithful to His Word.

…2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.… Genesis 12: 2-4

Let them be like the grass on the house tops - They are of shallow root, and cannot bear the summer sun. Theirs is a short time, and no one cares to harvest them, and so they wither to no use, and none call them blessed.

  

#880 A Family That Fears Together

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

who walks in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots

around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life!

6 May you see your children's children!

Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 128 ESV

A Psalm of Ascents, blessing those who fear the Lord.

This Psalm is titled, A Song of Ascents. It is another of the 15 songs sung by travelers on their way to Jerusalem, usually for one of the three yearly feasts (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles). Like Psalm 127 it has a focus on God’s work in and through the family. - Enduring Word

“It is of real significance that these songs of home and of true civic consciousness are found among those which are sung on the way that leads to worship. It is ever good to carry into the place of our communion with God the interests of home and city. It is only by doing so that we can influence these for their lasting good.” (G. Campbell Morgan)

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord - What a long reach, Jew or Gentile, everyone who fears the Lord. This is the beginning of wisdom.

Who walks in His ways - And this is who fears Him. Faith without works is dead. He is not an idol that men nod to, nor an ideal that men invent. He is not fickle like men, quick to anger like us, no, but His wrath is just, and those that truly fear His holiness will walk in His ways. Those that love Him will hate His disappointment. 

…21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. 23 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,…

…24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so— not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer— he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.… James 1: 21-26

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - We are to work, and those that fear the Lord will, but they shall eat of it and provide for their little ones. Labor is an honorable way to the table and we should thank God for the ability. 

…9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.… 2 Thessalonians 3: 9-11

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine - From out of her comes love, joy, peace and patience, as she gently works in the Spirit, bringing light and laughter to the home. This is the guard, the very heart of the home.

- Though the idea of bearing children is found in the figure of the fruitful vine, it goes far beyond it. “Good wives are also fruitful in kindness, thrift, helpfulness, and affection: if they bear no children, they are by no means barren if they yield us the wine of consolation and the clusters of comfort.” (Spurgeon)

Your children will be like olive shoots around your table - The vine above takes cultivating, but it's reach goes far from the root. It brings the fruit wherewith we make the drink that gladdens the heart. It is not necessary to your life, but he who finds a wife finds a good thing. The olive tree takes years of pruning, but produces fruit from which we gain oil. It is a luxury too, not a base thing, but a sign of blessing. It causes the face to shine.

“Though the olive tree may not bear after it has been planted for forty years, it is a symbol of longevity and productivity. So are children within the household of faith! They are not like grass, which is here today but is gone tomorrow. Rather, they are olive trees that in due time bear their fruit.” (VanGemeren)

Who fears the Lord - It is a great thing to us here and now, but the blessings of this life, the wine and the oil, nice thought they are, they are not to be mistaken for the glories which await those that truly fear the Lord. Oh, more than the things which fill the bowls and cups at my table, are the people with which I share it, Oh that they would fear the Lord. I would rather that then all the dainties of the wealthiest man here. May we meet again at God's table, my reservation is there.

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem - It starts at home, with men and women who dare to make God the center of their lives. They teach their children the fear of God, and this is revival for the whole city. Godly parents are the height of civil duty; they are the building blocks of church and community. The law is for the lawless, but they fear God and so love their neighbor, and so they have fulfilled the law.

Peace be upon Israel - They have traveled together as families, generations deep, to worship the Lord together. They are not solely fixed upon their local dwelling, immediate family, but their prayer is for all Israel. As part of the body of Christ, we should have a world view, knowing especially that we have an extended family of brothers and sisters who at this time may not know peace where they live. 

…12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, 13 so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 3: 12-13

1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men 2 for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,… 1 Timothy 2: 1-3

#879 Building

Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

2 It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Psalm 127 ESV

A song of Ascents of Solomon, unless the Lord builds.

- This is a family-psalm, as divers before were state-poems and church-poems. It is entitled (as we read it) "for Solomon,’’ dedicated to him by his father. He having a house to build, a city to keep, and seed to raise up to his father, David directs him to look up to God, and to depend upon his providence, without which all his wisdom, care, and industry, would not serve. Some take it to have been penned by Solomon himself, and it may as well be read, "a song of Solomon,’’ who wrote a great many; and they compare it with the Ecclesiastes, the scope of both being the same, to show the vanity of worldly care and how necessary it is that we keep in favour with God. On him we must depend, I. For wealth (v. 1, v. 2). II. For heirs to leave it to (v. 3-5). In singing this psalm we must have our eye up unto God for success in all our undertakings and a blessing upon all our comforts and enjoyments, because every creature is that to us which he makes it to be and no more.A song of degrees for Solomon. - Matthew Henry

Unless the Lord builds the house - If this is David talking to Solomon then it could be understood in view of the temple. David has laid out plans, gathered resources, but he was a man with bloody hands. Solomon is given the honor of building the temple, he has asked the Lord for wisdom, and he is a man of great intellect and vision, but whether from his father or in Ecclesiastical reminiscence, he is reminded of a Higher Authority. Now this would apply to kingdoms, the church, and home as well. 

Those who build it labor in vain - Solomon's temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, and though he was wise and industrious beyond his years, he tended toward a worldly wisdom often, and in denial of such foundational materials that God had instituted. We can make great towers, monuments to human achievement, like Babel or even the most beautiful cathedrals, even suggest it as unto the Lord, but if He is not in it, we labor in vain. There was a structure handed to Solomon from God, which was his intellect, the wisdom he asked for, but also the law unto kings.  

11 The word of the Lord came to Solomon: 12 “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. 13 And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.” 1 Kings 6: 11-13

4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:

5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.

6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:

7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

8 And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and to this house?

9 And they shall answer, Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshiped them, and served them: therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil. 1 Kings 9: 4-9

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stays awake in vain - Human effort can only achieve so much. A watchman can be killed by an enemy, or his report may come too late, depending on the catastrophe. Integrity is of the utmost, a watchman who can be bought off is of little value to the king who has entrusted him. If he decides that no one has ever attacked, the walls are strong, he may justify sleeping or drinking while on duty. God never sleeps and the righteous fear of Him makes the best watch upon the heart. David made both good and bad alliances, some would later help his son, Solomon, but Solomon would also take advantage of these and make unfair trades. David would have a first in command, Joab, who would not question a gross command from the king. While this may appeal to most of today's leaders, I would rather have a man tell me, "no, this is against God, and I will not do it." Solomon disobeyed the law unto kings, dealing in arms and horses with both Egypt and Assyria. He also became obsessed with women and materialism. 

Eating the bread of anxious toil - For the love of money, praise of men, and the comforts of this life, we lose the comfort of our needed rest. I have watched too many die while trying to hold onto the things of this life, terrified by what will happen to their stuff when they are gone. 

- Inordinate excessive care about the things of this world is a vain and fruitless thing. We weary ourselves for vanity if we have it, and often weary ourselves in vain for it, Matthew Henry

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord - These are ours to love and teach, to bring up in the ways of God. David passed on lessons both good and bad to his son. They say, "what you do in moderation your kids will do in excess." What about what you do in excess or that good that you fail to do all together? David had too many wives, Solomon far exceeded that, and it was taxing on his kingdom. 

The fruit of the womb a reward - We call them an inconvenience, an expense, and a bother, but God says, "a reward." If your heart is selfish then your eyes will be too, and I remember being a young dad, thinking, "if it wasn't for kids I could afford this pleasure, own that boat, quit this job," but I was forsaking a high calling, of father. They are God's gifts to us, to nurture and bring up for Him, life belongs to Him.

…19 And you set before them as a pleasing aroma the food I had given you—the fine flour, oil, and honey that I had fed you. That is what happened, declares the Lord GOD. 20 You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? 21 You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.… Ezekiel 16: 19-21

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior - If we shape them well, help them to make their way straight, they, by God's mercy, will hit the mark. The children of your youth are in old age the strength of your sunset. 

He shall not be put to shame - Children are a reflection of their parents, and even an enemy must recognize a well groomed child. Unruly, disrespectful children are a shame, and it is not always ungodly parents who bear these, but the godly parent remembers and takes head to bring them up in the way that they should go. It says, when they are old they will not depart from it. My mom taught us many good things that we happened to reject in later years, but I have come back to them, God hears the prayers of those fear and love Him. 

The essence of all of this is that apart from God we can do nothing. He is our life breath, Designer of all, builder and the One Who sustains all.

…3 but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” 4 Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever. 5 You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great—even beyond the borders of Israel.’”… Malachi 1: 3-5

#878 Laughter and Joy

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then they said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3 The Lord has done great things for us;

we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like streams in the Negeb!

5 Those who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!

6 He who goes out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126 ESV

A song of Ascent, the Lord restores.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion - Israel has known captivity, slavery in Egypt before ever entering Jerusalem, the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities, Persian and then Rome much after this was written. As members of the fallen human race we are all born slaves and captives to sin. 

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.…

…18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.… Romans 6: 15-20

We were like those who dream - It was too good to be true, probability stood in our way, it defies human reason. 

v. At times Christian revival has been described in these terms. J. Edwin Orr’s book All Your Need records the description of J. Oswald Sanders of the 1936 revival at Ngaruawahia, New Zealand: “For some time before Easter, a spirit of unusual expectancy had been kindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, but the reality far exceeded the expectation. Those of us who were responsible for the conduct of the camp had the great joy of sitting back and seeing God work in a sovereign way. We were as men that dreamed.” Cited from Enduring Word

…8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.… 1 Corinthians 2: 8-10

Then our mouth was filled with laughter - Filled! I have been witness to both pagans and some of those who proclaim Christ, searching for some sign of euphoria through great strain, standing, swaying, and even writhing on the ground. It is the same way they treat faith, as though it is something to muster up, to demand and will into being. Faith is a gift according to Scripture and the people here in this song have received. This is a most natural response to the work God has done by grace. The emotion follows the realization, we were captives, dead in our trespasses and sin, and so how can this great thing be? Pinch me, I must be dreaming. 

The Lord has done great things for them - A true revival does not go without notice, even our neighbors, our enemies can see. Let our lives give testament to the glorious, merciful work of our salvation. Let men see me and say, "that is not of Calvin, only God could do that."

The Lord has done great things for us - Yes, we attest to that. We were lost, captive, slaves, and He has set us not only free, but restored us to fellowship. 

We are glad - It is the poorest of preaching that leads to a surface confession, that does not address sin and it's wages. If you are not motivated by the cross, if you do not find yourself in awe of redemption, your heart filled with the joys of a home beyond, then what did you believe? I may not always be happy with current situations, but I have only to remember the joy of my salvation, and I am glad.

- “It is a poor modesty which is ashamed to own its joy in the Lord. Call it rather a robbery of God.” (Spurgeon)

Restore our fortunes, O Lord - The joy of what they thought permanently lost leads them to hope for more. Being born again is amazing, but it also brings with it the knowledge and desire for holiness. We are thankful for our salvation, but our spirit is now at war with our flesh. We are not content to stay babes, but desire to grow in stature by the word of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, being conformed daily to His image. 

…23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.… Romans 7: 23-25

Like the streams in the Negeb - Seasonal creeks, dry river beds, waiting for the rains of heaven to fill them. 

Those who sew in tears - Those, who once mourned, are comforted to the point of great joy. Let the sorrow over sin be the irrigation of your land. You will reap more than you have planted.

#877 Shaken

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the Lord surrounds his people,

from this time forth and forevermore.

3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest

on the land allotted to the righteous,

lest the righteous stretch out

their hands to do wrong.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,

and to those who are upright in their hearts!

5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways

the Lord will lead away with evildoers!

Peace be upon Israel!  Psalm 125 ESV

A Psalm of Ascents, the Lord surrounds His people.

Another of the Pilgrimage songs, another step in faith, reaching from the acknowledgement of God's past interventions in the songs before, faith looks to what it does not yet see, it hopes in God forevermore.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion - If your trust is in the unchangeable, the infinitely Holy and just Creator, you come to a settled place in your heart. A city set on a hill, a fortress, surrounded by mountains and blessed by God. If you put your trust in Christ then it is in God, and His salvation. You are partakers in His death and resurrection, knowing that you have an advocate in the heavens, eternal and always making intercession for the saints. My hope and therefore my life rests in Him. 

…24 But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches. 25 David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope,… Acts 2: 24-26

So the Lord surrounds His people - This is from now on, you are never alone. He does not leave us comfortless, without discipline or locked up, but is ever working on our behalf. 

- Note, it is not said that Jehovah's power or wisdom defends believers, but he himself is round about them: they have his personality for their protection, his Godhead for their guard. We are here taught that the Lord's people are those who trust him, for they are thus described in the first verses: the line of faith is the line of grace, those who trust in the Lord are chosen of the Lord. The two verses together prove the eternal safety of the saints: they must abide where God has placed them, and God must for ever protect them from all evil. It would be difficult to imagine greater safety than is here set forth. C. H. Spurgeon 

For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest - You may be oppressed, wicked men may rule for a time, but it shall not find permanent rest over the righteous. Kings and kingdoms will come and go, but the promises of God will stand. Oppression brings with it the temptation of doubt, of hate, of giving up, disloyalty, compromise, but God promises that we will not be tempted beyond what we are able. He will provide a way of escape.

…21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened. 23 At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it.… Matthew 24: 21-23

24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you in advance.… Matthew 24: 24-25

And to those who are upright in their hearts - We should not fail in praying for the saints, especially those of us who are blessed with so much time. This is a great strength that we overlook, and when we do pray we tend to be self serving, but it is so much more glorious to take our eyes off ourselves. Count our present suffering as joy and let us look upon the suffering of others as so much the more significant. Let us find ways to relieve their suffering since ours no longer measures up. 

But those who turn aside to their crooked ways - The way of peace, the truth is not without consequence in an evil world, and some will give up the straight and narrow for the comforts and ease of the wicked.

- Alas, there are some who pass from one class to another, not by a happy conversion, turning from the twisting lanes of deceit into the highway of truth, but by an unhappy declension leaving the main road of honesty and holiness for the bypaths of wickedness. Such apostates have been seen in all ages, and David knew enough of them; he could never forget Saul, and Ahithophel, and others. How sad that men who once walked in the right way should turn aside from it! Observe the course of the false hearted: first, they look out for crooked ways; next, they choose them and make them "their crooked ways"; and then they turn aside into them. They never intend to go back unto perdition, but only to make a curve and drop into the right road again. The straight way becomes a little difficult, and so they make a circumbendibus, which all along aims at coming out right, though it may a little deviate from precision. These people are neither upright in heart, nor good, nor trusters in Jehovah, and therefore the Lord will deal otherwise with them than with his own people: when execution day comes these hypocrites and time servers shall be led out to the same gallows as the openly wicked. C. H. Spurgeon

18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.… 1 John 2: 18-20

#876 Let Us Now Say

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—

let Israel now say—

2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side

when people rose up against us,

3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,

when their anger was kindled against us;

4 then the flood would have swept us away,

the torrent would have gone over us;

5 then over us would have gone

the raging waters.

6 Blessed be the Lord,

who has not given us

as prey to their teeth!

7 We have escaped like a bird

from the snare of the fowlers;

the snare is broken,

and we have escaped!

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124 ESV

A Psalm of Ascents, some attribute to David.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side - Immanuel, God with us, recognize. It is written almost like one of those songs you hear in church, where the song leader sings a phrase and then the people echo. "Is this not the truth," let Israel now say - "yes, it is."

When people rose up against us - It does not give a specific event, but Israel had many enemies and the Lord intervened much. We are bound to err often, as we brush the dust off our sleeves, to think that we have conquered on our own, even though we peed ourselves in the midst of the turmoil. Noah was a prophet, who preached 120 years while building the ark, to a people who could not hear. They were spiritually dead, yet as violent and vile as they were, God's work still went on, and the ark was finished to the saving of Noah's household. David rose to fame when he stood against the giant, Goliath, who represented the nation of the Philistines, who had ravaged Israel for years. God had intervened so many times on their behalf, yet still their pride and desire for autonomy, led them to think too much of their own works, their pedigree, themselves. 

…4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.… John 15: 4-6

When their anger was kindled against us - You troubler of Israel, Ahab said to Elijah. Jezebel would have the prophet dead, as they would desire the fate of all the prophets to be. Isaiah, who wrote the most beautiful introduction to the gospels, often called the fifth gospel, he was sawn in half. John the Baptist, who brought the call to repentance, and proclaimed the coming of Christ, he was beheaded. 

“Anger is never more fiery than when the people of God are its objects. Sparks become flames, and the furnace is heated seven times hotter when God’s elect are to be thrust into the blaze.” (Spurgeon)

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Daniel 3: 13-23

As prey to their teeth - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refused to worship an idol, refused to walk in a way contrary to the truth. They served the living God, and so some have thought they could have bowed the knee but not worshiped in their hearts, but that is an anemic religion, and of no good to those watching. When we shut our mouths we have also shut up our hearts. There is no compassion in withholding the truth, in acting contrary to the proclamation of the only One, Who can save. Their friend Daniel would later be asked to worship a man, and he would be sent to the lion's den for honoring the God of Israel. Men may deliver you up, but God has the final say. If you go with God, you go to God, death has no teeth for the likes of God's children, only a shadow. 

The snare is broken - Whom the Son sets free shall be free indeed.

…53 For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55“Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”… 1 Corinthians 15: 53-55

…13 And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And once again: “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.” 14 Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.… Hebrews 2: 13-15

Our help is in the name of the Lord - There is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved. Jesus Christ.