A Prayer For Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Israel

"Many a time and much have they

afflicted me from my youth up

-let Israel now say-

Many a time and much have they afflicted

me from my youth up, yet,

they have not prevailed against me.

The plowers plowed upon my back;

they made long their furrows.

The Lord is uncompromisingly righteous;

He has cut asunder the thick cords

by which the wicked enslaved us.

Let them all be put to shame and

turned backward who hate Zion.

Let them be as the grass upon the housetops,

which withers before it grows up,

With which the mower fills not his hand,

nor the binder of sheaves his bosom-

While those who go by do not say,

The blessing of the Lord be upon you!

We bless you in the name of the Lord!"

Psalm 129

The LORD is righteous: 
He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

The Lord is righteous,.... Or gracious and merciful;

 hence acts of mercy are called righteousness

 in the Hebrew language;

 the Lord has compassion on His people

 under their afflictions, and delivers them;

  is faithful to His promises of salvation to them,

 and just and righteous to render tribulation

 to them that trouble them,

 and take vengeance upon them;

 He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked:

 alluding to the cords with which

 the plough is fastened to the oxen,

 which being cut, 
 they cannot go on ploughing;

 or to the cords of whips, 

which when, cut cannot be

 used to any purpose: it designs

 the breaking of the confederacies

 of wicked men against the people of God; 

 confounding their counsels and schemes, 

and disappointing their devices; 

so that they cannot perform their enterprises,

 or carry their designs into execution, 

or go on with and finish their intentions. 

Let them all be confounded,.... Or "ashamed": 

as all the enemies of God's people 
will be sooner or later,

 in this world...

 when Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven;

  let them be disappointed of their views, aims, and ends,

 when they will be confounded, as disappointed persons are..."

"Psalm 129"

 Gill's Exposition on the Bible




 “Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest; 
Thou, and the ark of Thy strength.”
 Psalm 132:8

Arise, O Lord, our God, arise
And enter now into Thy rest;
O let this house be Thine abode,
Forever with Thy presence blest.
Thy gracious cov’nant, Lord, fulfill,
Turn not away from us Thy face;
Establish Thou Messiah’s throne
And let Him reign within this place.
Thy Zion Thou hast chosen, Lord,
And Thou hast said, I love her well,
This is My constant resting place,
And here will I delight to dwell.
I will abundantly provide
For Zion’s good, the Lord hath said;
I will supply her daily need
And satisfy her poor with bread.
 Words: The Psalter
(1912)
Music: Herr Je­su Christ (Bach),
 Pen­sum Sac­rum,
(1648)
 Arranged by Johann  S. Bach
 (1685-1750) 

The Eastern Gate
Jerusalem, Israel