PSALMS OF ASCENT!

PSALM 129:1-2

Victory
THEY HAVE GREATLY OPPRESSED ME FROM MY YOUTHLET ISRAEL SAYTHEY HAVE GREATLY OPPRESSED ME FROM MY YOUTH, BUT THEY HAVE NOT GAINED THE VICTORY OVER ME. (PSALMS 129:12 NIV)
PATIENCE
Most nations look back to their accomplishments - but Israel looks back to reect on survival! Sometimes survival is t h e g r e a t e s t v i c t o r y. I n remembering Gods help in the past the call goes out here from one singer to the rest of his pilgrims, like Psalm 124.1. This is a Psalm about the long-term value of perseverance, of trusting God that His redemption will come at the right time. That holding on to hope in Him will be vindicated. That it will be worth it to remain in Him. ..patience has a positive tonic effect on others; because of the presence of the patient person, they revive and go on, as if he were the gyroscope of the ship providing a stable ground. But the patient person himself does not enjoy it. Paul Goodman We want victory, and share in it now (1 Cor 15:54-57), but its fullness will only be experienced in eternity, and in the meantime we must take heart and be patient knowing the nal victory is coming. outlast all oppressors. We can sing this hymn with joy ...
I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory, How he gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me; I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood atoning, Then I repented of my sins and won the victory. O victory in Jesus my Savior forever He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing ood. I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory And I heard about the street of gold beyond the crystal sea; About the angels singing, and the old redemption story, And some sweet day Ill sing up there the song of victory. O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever....,

PERSEVERANCE
This oppression has been going on for a while. From my youth probably refers to the Exodus (see Hos 11:1). Gods people of the old covenant, Christians & Christianity have been kicked around over the centuries. We are not always strong, but we are hard to kill, like a tough perennial. The life of Paul is a great example of this. He was able to go through the intense trials recorded in 2 Cor 11:23-29, and still say, Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:1314 NIV) We are called to imitate this faith - i.e. faithfulness through suffering. The person of faith

Malcolm Cox, email: malcolm.cox@iccmissions.org | ICC Missions on facebook | www.nwlcc.org