Sunday Psalms;

A pilgrimage song.

From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, 

but they have never defeated me.

My back is covered with cuts, 

as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.

But the Lord is good; 

he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.

Psalms 129:2-4 NLT

This part of the pilgrimage, the journey, is acknowledging the harm that others have done.

Harm that started when the writer was young, and happened over a long time.

Harm that cannot be erased, the writer pictures a back that has been ploughed like a field, being bound by ropes.

And this song includes God's goodness even though others have caused harm. 

And this song does not demand anything of the person harmed, it actually goes on to give this very human response of wanting some kind of justice;

Psalms 129:6-7 NLT

"May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop, turning yellow when only half grown, 

ignored by the harvester, despised by the binder."

Consequences for those who have caused the harm. 

Justice.

This song of pilgrimage, journey, ascent, acknowledges harm, and the inbuilt human demand for justice, and at the same time, right in the middle, holds firmly that our God is Good. 

"But the Lord is good".

His justice will prevail.

And while we might only get glimpses of the healing that we need, one day, all will be made new.

#psalms129

#journey

#hopeishere