If there is one people group that has been attacked from the beginning of their existence, it would be Israel. As the covenant people of God, they have been hated for many and various reasons. When the psalmist says, “Since my youth they have often attacked me,” (Ps 129:1), that is true in more ways that we can understand.
It’s why they have the best air force in the world and train the US pilots, and that every citizen must receive two years of military training, and why they take seriously their martial arts like Krav Maga. It’s not a game and it never has been. They’ve been surrounded by people wanting to annihilate them from the beginning. Their kingdom purposes have never stopped being the primary target of the enemy of men’s souls.
In the time of this psalm, they are recalling a lifetime of being attacked by their enemies. And the enemies have ‘plowed furrows on their back.’ But the LORD is righteous and delivered them.
And so the psalmist prays this.
“Let them be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it grows up” (Ps 129:6).
The psalmist is praying that those who hate Israel would not flourish but whither away. Otherwise if they prosper someone might be tempted to pronounce blessing on them. But the psalmist prays this would not happen. Rather, let the blessing of God fall on his covenant people Israel.
