Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

1 They have greatly oppressed me from my youth—
let Israel say-

2 they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.

3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.

4 But the LORD is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.

5 May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.

6 May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;

7 with it the reaper cannot fill his hands,
nor the one who gathers fill his arms.

8 May those who pass by not say,
"The blessing of the LORD be upon you;
we bless you in the name of the LORD."

Ever since the time of Jesus, the church has always been under constant persecution. Almost all of the 12 disciples of Jesus died a martyr's death. They were beheaded, crucified, crucified upside down and speared. This webpage shows quite a complete listing.


Even in recent times, the persecution of the church goes on in some parts of the world. Brother Yun, who was from China, suffered intense persecution because of his faith in Jesus. In his book "The Heavenly Man", he wrote

In my home area of Nanyang, believers were crucified on the walls of their churches for not denying Christ. ... One pastor was bound and attached to a long rope. The authorities, enraged that the man of God would not deny his faith, used a makeshift crane to lift him high into the air. Before hundreds of witnesses who had come to accuse him solely of being a "counter revolutionary," [Public interrogation and punishment built the public fear needed for government control] the pastor was asked on last time if he would recant. He shouted back, "No! I will never deny the Lord who saved me!" The rope was released and the pastor crashed to the ground below. (Page 21)

Despite all the things that the devil has done against the church, the church continues to grow and was never eliminated. Just like what the psalmist wfrote in Psalm 129:1-4. There's no way the church will be destroyed.

It is because we have a great and mighty God!


I really have to be more outward-looking. I have never been on a mission trip. I have not seen what it's like to believe in Jesus in other nations. Lord, give me a chance to go and serve another nation. Then I would be able to appreciate what I have in Singapore way much better.


Things to ponder
1. Do you feel persecuted in school or in your family because of you faith? If so, in what ways?
2. Pray and ask God to help Christians who are currently persecuted. You can search the internet to find out more.
3. Pray and ask God to give you a heart to serve the nations. Ask for an opportunity to go on a mission trip.