Psalm 129

“May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!” (v5).  At first glance this seems to be a vengeful psalm, yet the same idea is expressed more positively as “Thy kingdom come!”  The psalmist says that “Israel” has been attacked since the beginning (v1); God’s reign among His people (Israel/Zion) has been opposed in every way.  However, the prophets declared that “hating Zion” – rebelling against God’s authority – was an insider problem, too.

“The Lord is righteous” (v4), and no one else.  Thankful for His mercy and grace, we can pray that His kingdom, His rule and His character, will be established in us and among us.