Psalm 129:1-4: Perseverance

Have you ever watched one of those running documentaries on Netflix? We have all seen the food documentaries, but the running ones are their own category. My husband, Wes, loves them. The funny thing is that he does not even like to run. Give him a bag of chips and a running documentary and he is perfectly content.

One of his favorites is The Barkley Marathon. It tells the story of an ultramarathon trail race held in Frozen Head State Park in Wartburg, Tennessee. Wes and I are both originally from Tennessee, yet we had never heard of this place. In this race, a 60 mile effort is considered the “fun run.” The full course is around 100 miles. Runners have sixty hours to complete it, and the rules often change. The weather is unpredictable, and in thirty four years only fifteen runners have finished the entire course. Fifteen. It is a race that demands perseverance.

Perseverance is simply persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay. It means steadfastness. It is something I need more of in my own life. Psalm 129 is a psalm of perseverance and prayer. It is one of the fifteen Songs of Ascents. These were the songs the people of Israel sang as they walked up the road to Jerusalem. Eugene Peterson calls them Israel’s dog eared songbook.

Persevering is difficult because our culture loves instant results. We are tempted to quit when something takes too long or feels too heavy. The Greek idea behind the word perseverance means to remain under a weight. I remember being a child in fourth grade, staring at reading comprehension questions and thinking that going back to reread the whole passage was simply too much. Now, as a mother, I tell my own kids, “Yes, you really do have to go back and read it again. Persevere.” I feel the same pull to quit when I am learning new technology. You probably feel it in areas like work, friendships, finances, parenting, or marriage. Life gives us many opportunities to practice perseverance in emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual ways.

We even have sayings for it such as: Whatever does not kill you makes you stronger. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. No pain, no gain. It does not make you bitter. It makes you better.

Scripture gives us something far truer than clichés. Psalm 129 shows us a picture of God’s people persevering against real oppression.

"They have greatly oppressed me from my youth. Let Israel say. They have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. But the Lord is righteous. He has cut me free from the cords of the wicked” (Psalm 129:1-4).

The word oppressed appears twice, and its description is strong. The oppression was great. Throughout history, Israel has endured the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Romans, and many others. Their story has always included hardship. And for us as Christ followers, we should not be surprised when our own path is not easy.

If you were to visit Israel today, you can go to Masada. It is a striking place. During the time of Jesus, Masada was Herod’s desert palace. Think of it as his Biltmore House in the Negev. Later, it became a refuge for 960 Jewish people fleeing Roman persecution. Masada was a fortress, yet the Romans still pursued them. They built ramps and moved earth until they reached the top. From every angle, it looked as if the Jewish people would be wiped out. Yet a remnant survived. Some hid during the siege and lived to tell the story.

Today, Israeli teenagers visit Masada as part of their military training. When you visit, you see the flag flying at the top. It is a reminder that the Jewish people have faced constant attacks, yet God preserved them. The Romans won that day, but two thousand years later Latin is no longer spoken. The people of Israel remain. Through great affliction, God’s people can persevere and experience great deliverance because they have a great Savior.

What is weighing heavily on you? What part of your life feels too hard or has lasted too long? What sits on your back like a burden you cannot lift? Jesus offered His back for you. He offered His face. He offered His body. He died in our place so that we might live. How can we endure? It's only through Christ, and His righteousness.

“But the Lord is righteous.” That is the truth to put on repeat. It is far better than the thought that this is too hard for me. The righteousness of Jesus is the only righteousness that saves. Saves us from what? Saves us from our sins. We all sin every day, but the Lord is righteous. Yes, our backs can feel bent, bruised, and worn down. But we have a Savior, and Isaiah 53 tells us that by His wounds we are healed.

We may face trouble or even oppression. Some things in life will simply be hard. Yet we have One who saves, heals, helps, and walks with us. His name is Jesus. We can persevere in the race He has set before us (Hebrews 12). When we see how Jesus endured the cross for us, it strengthens us to keep running with endurance and perseverance as we fix our eyes on Him.