““Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say— “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.” Psalm 129:1-2 ESV.
Reflection: why does God’s people have to suffer in the world?
In a way, we have been created from the beginning to “fit in”. If you spend a minute thinking about how much of a “follower” mentality we have in most societies, in families, among friends, in school, and at work. We speak in a certain way, dress in a certain way, even at times think in a certain way; all to be accepted to those around us. “Codes of conduct” are developed either explicitly or implicitly, and end up as we often think about as “culture”. There is culture in your family, your neighborhood, your church, your workplace and among your friends. You might think you are above that, that you are “an independent person”. But the truth is that pretty much all people feel this need, one way or another. Because we are designed to be in communion with God, and with each other. So this feeling of wanting to fit in is not necessarily bad.
Sadly, this need to fit in is also exploited by the world, as well as by evil. Think of how industry works, like with our cars, houses and fashion. Or how our schools teach. Or how our media works. It is all to form opinions, to align acceptable beliefs and behaviors. If you try to go against it, you might quickly find out how strong the culture truly is. I know I bring this up all the time, but think of all the group behavior during the pandemic. If you take a step back and think about that time, it was very difficult to go against the accepted beliefs, norms. The picture we can form here is that the world is “flowing” like a river in one direction, and being a Christian is truly to go against that flow.
As Psalm 128 highlights the Lord’s blessings over those who fear Him and walk on His ways, Psalm 129 reveals the suffering of God’s people. The focus verses today say ““Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say— “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.” Psalm 129:1-2 ESV. The psalmist is recognizing the history of God’s people as a people in suffering, because of being a people following God’s ways and His Law. But of course that is also meant as a picture of all of God’s people, who have received Christ and believe in His name. And we know that when we proclaim Christ, who we are in Christ, and decide to truly follow Him as our Lord, we are going against the flow of the world.
Jesus promised that this would be hard, because it is counter to the world. Jesus said ““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also.” John 15:18-23 ESV. The last verse here is very telling as some people claim to love God, but have an issue with Jesus. The question therefore is, who is their god then?
In a way, noticing that we are going against the flow of the world, and the suffering that comes with that, is in a way an honor. This is what our Lord Jesus experienced. We are called by Him to be light, to be salt, in this world, which always will have a cost. The light is not welcomed in the dark places it is needed; we might even be hated for it. Let’s remember Jesus’ words to us today is “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33 ESV