#DailyDevotion Christ Has Freed Us To Be His Own
Psalm 129 Let Israel say, “Men have often attacked me from the time I was young. 2They have often attacked me from the time I was young but have never overpowered me. 3They have plowed my back and made their furrows long. 4But the LORD, Who is righteous, has cut me loose from the ropes of the wicked.” 5May all who hate Zion be turned back in disgrace. 6May they be like herbs growing on the housetops that wither before being plucked, 7so no reaper can take a handful of it, no gatherer can take it to his bosom, 8and no one who passes by can say, “The LORD bless you! We bless you in the LORD’s name!”
From early on, from Egypt, Israel has been under oppression from different forces. Israel was attacked in the wilderness. They often were oppressed by the Philistines when they rebelled against the LORD. Later whe northern Israel rebelled they were oppressed under the Assyrians. When Judah rebelled they were oppressed by the Babylonians. They were then under the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans. Yet, because they were favored by the LORD, they were never overpowered, e.g. they were wiped out. Throughout Israel’s history, foreign armies ran over their territory.
In similar fashion, the Church, which is Israel, has always gone through periods of oppression throughout the world. World powers have persecuted the Church in many and various places. They use the Church for their own purposes. Yet, because of the LORD’s favor, the Church will not be overcome or overpowered.
The righteous LORD freed the Israelites from the Egyptians. He brought them back from exile in Babylon to their own land and freed them from their bondage to them. Even greater now, the LORD Jesus Christ has freed us from slavery to the fear of death, slavery to sin and the power of the devil. Paul says in Romans 7, “18Freed from sin, you were made the slaves of righteousness.” In chapter 8 he says, ” 2The rule of the Spirit, who gives life, has in Christ Jesus freed you from the rule of sin that kills.” In Gal. 3 he writes, “13Christ paid the price to free us from the curse of the Law when He was cursed for us (it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)…” In 5:1 he says, “Christ has freed us so that we’ll be free. Stand firm, then, and don’t get caught again under a yoke of slavery,” Jesus tells us in John 8, “36If, then, the Son frees you, you will really be free.” So having been freed by Jesus. The ropes of bondage to sin have been cut in baptism. Yet, we should not use our freedom to entangle ourselves in sin again.
Those who hate Zion, that is God’s people, the Church, will be turned back in shame. They will eventually, like herbs dried up from the heat of the sun, growing in pots, be dried and shriveled up. There will be nothing to reap from them in the end. They are but empty husk, chaff to be burned in the eternal fires. There is no one to tell them, “The LORD bless you. We bless you in the name of the LORD,” for they will not be able to receive it. This was a greeting of to those reaping the harvest as we see in the book of Ruth. It is similar to our greeting to one another in Church, “The peace of the LORD be with you. And also with you.”
These ending verses should instruct us not to be jealous of those living in sin who seem to prosper. They have built their house on sand and their works shall crush them with a sudden crash at the judgment. No one will be able to save them. They will get what they have always asked for, what they deserve. They are just deceived as to what it is they deserved for their works.
Gracious God and Father, continually give us Your Spirit of freedom we have received in Christ Jesus so we may serve you and love our fellow man according to Your good and gracious will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.