Chapter Summary

Prayer for destruction of all the enemies of Zion.

Discussion Questions for Psalms, Chapter 129

1. Psalm 129:1-2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth— let Israel now say—“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.” (ESV) What do you think is the motive for repetition? What significance can be found in the calling upon of this declaration?
2. When in your life have you seen the enemy attack but not prevail? How does hearing others victory stories encourage or inspire your heart?
3. How can the recognition of God’s active intervention shape our prayer life? How does our prayer life shape the way we walk through our day? How does it impact our awareness of God's intercession in our lives?
4. Psalm 129:3, “The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.” (ESV) Who are the “plowers” in this passage? What would be the equivalent of their actions today?
5. Psalm 129:4, “The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.” (ESV) What can we take away from the Psalmist’s insert of God’s righteousness? Based on your current circumstances, how would you follow the words "The Lord is righteous, ___________________________________________".
6. Psalm 129:5, “May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!” (ESV) Often in Scripture, we see a call for the wicked to be “put to shame”. What is the significance of this? What does it mean for someone to be “put to shame”?
7. What did it mean to “hate Zion”? How does this help us understand why it is important to the Psalmist?
8. Psalm 129:6, “Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up.” (ESV) How does this imagery capture the urgency of the Psalmist’s pleas to God?
9. Psalm 129:7-8, “With which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms, nor do those who pass by say, ‘The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!’” (ESV) What actions are being described here? What is the Psalmist asking God to do to those that hate Zion?
10. How does the putting to shame of the wicked contrast the blessing of the righteous?

Key Words/Phrase

The wicked, v. 4.

Characters

God, Israel.

Strong Verse(s)

4