Psalms 129:1 «A Song of degrees. » Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
Ver. 1. Many a time] Or, much, and long.
Have they] i.e. The persecutors that deserve not a name. The rich man is not named (as Lazarus is), because not worthy, Luke 16:19. They shall be written in the earth, Jeremiah 17:13 .
Afflictcted me] i.e. The whole community of saints; spoken of here in the singular, for their, 1. unity; 2. paucity.
From my youth] The first that ever died, died for religion; so early came martyrdom into the world.
May Israel now say] Who yet are promised peace, Psalms 128:6; but so was Josiah, and yet he died in battle, 2 Chronicles 34:28. But the very God of peace had sanctifed him throughout, and so altered the property of his affliction, that it was subservient to his salvation.