583_Our anchor in our afflictions (Psam 129) Psalm 129 “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!” There’s an old story about a ship caught in a violent storm off the coast of Scotland. Waves slammed against the hull, wind tore at the sails, and everyone on board thought the vessel would break apart at any moment. In the chaos, an elderly sailor seemed strangely calm. Someone shouted, “How can you be so peaceful when we may not make it?” The old sailor replied, “I have sailed through storms worse than this. I’ve learned that one thing matters when the wind rages: find the anchor, make sure it holds, and ride it out.” That night, the anchor did hold, and the ship survived. The next morning, as the sun rose over quiet waters, the young sailor understood the lesson: security wasn’t found in calmer seas, but in a faithful anchor. Psalm 129 is a song for storm-tossed believers, a song for anyone battered by seasons of affliction. This Psalm, part of the Songs of Ascents, looks back over Israel’s long and often heartbreaking history. Over and over again, enemies tried to wipe Israel off the map. Israel’s story is not the story of a strong nation defeating its enemies through superior strength. It’s the story of a small, vulnerable people preserved by an unshakable God. From the very beginning, Israel faced threats far greater than they could withstand. When Jacob was running from Laban, God warned Laban in a dream not to harm him. When Jacob feared Esau might slaughter his family, God intervened and turned Esau’s anger into peace. In Egypt, Pharaoh attempted to kill every male Hebrew child. Later, Assyrians, Syrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, dictators, and tyrants tried to erase them. Yet none prevailed. Not because Israel was stronger, wiser, or more numerous. In almost every case, they were outnumbered. And still, Psalm 129 declares: “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.” That is the heartbeat of this Psalm: many afflictions, yes — but no extinction. Many battles, yes — but no defeat. Many storms, yes — but the anchor held. This testimony belongs not only to ancient Israel; it belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ. From its first days in the Roman Empire, the Church has endured the fury of enemies visible and invisible. Authorities imprisoned believers, mobs tore Christians
