Psalms of the Assents: Protection of the Oppressed

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 129:2

Since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not prevailed against me.

(CSB)

Jesus does not promise a world void of trouble, only that His resurrection has overcome the evil in the world (John 16:33).  Jesus death and resurrection changed the spiritual and eternal state of humanity but not the location in which people live.  Not to fear, however, for as Jesus and the psalmist remind us, we have safety and security in Christ. 

The world in which we live is dangerous.  This morning police helicopters were hovering around my neighborhood.  We have no idea what was happening but when the helicopter is close enough to hear them talking with people on the ground, all you do is lock the doors and stay inside.  In addition, street racers continue to be a problem in the Phoenix area.  With two fatal accidents in Phoenix on Sunday morning, one must wonder if these fatal accidents were the result of street racing.  (1) (2)  Political divisiveness in the world is also placing one group of people against another creating potentially violent and even fatal situations.  While political division is nothing new (3), social media and the internet have made the spreading of hateful rhetoric instantaneous. 

Those professing Jesus as their savior have a high calling to spread the Gospel and make disciples of the nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).  This is the unity in Christ spoken of in Ephesians 4:1-6 that is not uniformity as each individual retains his or her uniqueness but unity of purpose.  However, this unity of purpose in Christ will meet with opposition requiring spiritual warfare using spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:10-20).  However, the provision of these spiritual weapons once again shows God’s protection for his people against oppression. 

As the Israelites made their pilgrimages to Jerusalem they would think of the words of Psalm 129.  Perhaps they would remember the accounts of their oppression as slaves in Egypt and how God miraculously delivered them from their oppressors.  Perhaps they would remember the oppression of the Philistines and how a young shepherd boy with the help of God defeated them (1 Samuel 17).  Perhaps they would remember their protection from antihalation as a nation during the time of Esther.  The bottom line is that the words of the psalmist in Psalm 129 are true with God always protecting His people. 

In today’s dangerous world God’s people must

1)      Know their identity in Christ (Ephesians 1-3) – All people have sinned and fallen short of God’s holy standard (Romans 3:23) but those choosing to make Jesus their savior have moved from a life of death in sin to life in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10).  Unfortunately, however, Satan reminds believers of their earlier sinful identity and if when they dwell on that identity, they become ineffective as soldiers of Christ with a calling to spread the Gospel.  Instead of giving in to the deception of the enemy, God’s people must know their new identity in Christ and remind Satan of their identity shift based upon scriptural truth. 

2)      Remain unified (Ephesians 4:1-6:9) – As stated earlier, this is not uniformity but unity of purpose with each believer in Christ using their unique talents and abilities to assist in spreading the Gospel. 

3)      Remain prepared for spiritual war (Ephesians 6:10-20) – Living for Christ placed us at odds with those choosing to remain in their sin.  The armor of God symbolizes the tools of truth, righteousness, the Gospel message, faith, salvation, and the Word of God that the people of God have to defeat Satan. 

It is a dangerous world and not a world one should live in without the protection of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus as your savior, I urge you to pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

It is a dangerous world with even God’s people susceptible to danger, but God’s people have the advantage of the Lord’s protection against danger.  God’s people therefore need not cower in fear in a dangerous world but can live in the joy and strength of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10).  May everyone reading this find joy and protection in the Lord. 

1. Fox 10 AZ. 3 teenagers dead after a crash in Phoenix. www.fox10phoenix.com. [Online] Fox News, August 19, 2018. [Cited: August 19, 2018.] http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/3-teenagers-taken-to-the-hospital-after-a-crash-in-phoenix.

2. AZ, Fox 10. Glendale PD: 2 dead after a 5 vehicle crash near 91st Ave and Camelback. www.fox10phoenix.com. [Online] Fox News, August 19, 2018. [Cited: August 19, 2018.] http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/glendale-pd-2-dead-after-a-5-vehicle-crash-near-91st-ave-and-camelback.

3. Hanson, Victor Davis. It’s 1968 All Over Again. www.nationalreview.com. [Online] National Review, October 12, 2017. [Cited: August 19, 2018.] https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/10/divisive-american-politics-today-recall-1968/.