In our Bible study we looked at Ps 129-131, and these three psalms again give us a by-now familiar picture of trouble, hope in God and deliverance. Ps 129 has much to say about oppression, and certainly we need to face up to the fact that trouble, oppression and persecution will form part of life – there is simply no escape! (see John 16:33, 2 Tim 3:12, 1 Pet 4:12, 2 Cor 11:24-27). Yet this psalm strikes a note of holy defiance: even though there is oppression, God’s hand in deliverance is seen (Ps 129:2-4). Defiance is often perceived in a negative way as rebellion, but our submission to God will go hand in hand with our resistance to the devil’s wiles and to men’s rules if they conflict with God’s (see James 4:7-8, 1 Pet 5: 8-9, Acts 4:18-20, Acts 5:27-29).
We are not called to be defiant towards God, and Ps 130 and Ps 131 give us a picture of our right response to troubles: to wait for and hope in God. Having the same confidence as a night watchman that morning will come because that is the way God has designed the world, we learn to trust in God through adversities, just as a child that is being weaned ultimately learns contentment in its mother’s arms, despite its reluctance to embrace this new method of feeding! (Ps 131:2) Ps 130 reminds us of many facets of God’s character which we need always to remember: His faithfulness, forgiveness, mercy and unfailing love. When we are anchored in God’s character, we have confidence in His redemption, provision and protection, no matter what the enemy plans for us. (Rom 8:28)