Reading: Psalm 129
A song of ascents.
“They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
let Israel say;
“they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the 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.”
May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.
May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;
a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the LORD be on you;
we bless you in the name of the LORD” (NIV).*
Bilberry Creek, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
A few years back I had a conversation with a Jewish friend about what it means to be numbered among God’s chosen people. I found his response quite surprising.
“Most people see being God’s chosen as a great honor or a blessing. The reality is quite different. The reality is persecution. The reality is envy and hatred by your neighbors. The reality is six million dead in the Holocaust. We are God’s chosen people. Is that a blessing? Sometimes it feels like a curse.”
Psalm 129 reflects the truth of my friend’s words: “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.”
Often we make the assumption that being chosen by God will bring great blessing. But being called and chosen does not mean trouble free. The apostle Paul was God’s called and chosen messenger to the Gentiles, but fulfilling his mission involved tremendous suffering, beatings, imprisonment and ultimately martyrdom. See 2 Corinthians 11:22-33. Paul makes this observation about his calling: For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings (1 Corinthians 4:9).
Genuinely following Jesus in the world today can lead directly to persecution. Amnesty International reports that 80% of the systemic persecution in the world today is targeted at Christians. There is often a price to pay for being God’s chosen.
Response: Father God, I pray for those who are facing severe persecution, whatever their faith may be. But I pray especially for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Have mercy on them for Jesus sake. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you see yourself as chosen by God? He has called you to be His child by regeneration.
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA
Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is available now. For a closer look at Volumes I and II click here.
I am privileged beyond measure to be a chosen child of God; He chooses us before we are even conceived…wow! My brain can never get over that. But it does come at a cost from those who despise Him, they despise His children. But the rewards are Heavenly – Hallelujah!
Amen this is so true and makes me wonder why I face so little persecution. About the worst is neighbors who won’t say hello or my sister who snipes at my faith.
God is “Abba, Father.” Abba we love, Father, we should have a godly fear. He disciplines and He allows the persecution. Ask Paul, Job, Elijah, Jesus Himself.
So true! “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5).
Amen!
David, I just talked to another believer about the suffering church in China, And How its coming here, persecution will weed out the false followers, may we hold close to what we profess, God help us hold on to the end, God bless, Dave
Love this: “Often we make the assumption that being chosen by God will bring great blessing. But being called and chosen does not mean trouble free. ”
i was teaching my kids on Genesis and how sometimes it seems the elect doesn’t seem “bless” such as Esau first having a family while Jacob has his “wilderness years” with Laban.
God often meets us in our troubles just as He did with Jacob. Often God is closest when we are lowest.
True