Psalm 129 Bible Commentary

John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes

(Read all of Psalm 129)

Verse 1

[1] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

From my youth — From the time that I was a people.

Verse 4

[4] The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

Righteous — Faithful or merciful.

The cords — Wherewith the plow was drawn. By these cords he understands all their plots and endeavours.

Verse 6

[6] Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

House-tops — Which there were flat.

Which — Having no deep root, never comes to maturity. And so all their designs shall be abortive.

Verse 8

[8] Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

The blessing — Which was an usual salutation given by passengers to reapers: so the meaning is, it never continues 'till the harvest comes.