Martin Luther on Psalms 129:3

Verse. 3. The plowers plowed vppon my backe & they made long furrowes.

See what vnlike and almost contrary thinges he ioyneth here together. Before he cōforted the faythfull, that the enemies should neuer be able to doe any thing against the Church, because it is inuincible and can not be ouercome: and here he complayneth that they plow vpon the backe of the Church, & make such furrowes, as seeme to be of an infinite length. This is an offence therefore which vehemently troubleth the godly, that God suffereth Satan and the world so long to rage, so long to vexe & afflict the Church, that he giueth successe vnto their wicked counsells and attempts: that he suffereth the vngodly euen then to prosper, when they are most worthy to be punished with all maner of tormentes, and vtterly consumed. On the other side, the godly, the more they pray and the more they hope, the lesse seemeth their prayer and their hope to take effect: Euery day are they more and more afflicted: euery day there is lesse & lesse hope left. Wherfore this similitude is well applied vnto them in that they are compared to a grownd which is continually plowed: wherin such furrowes are drawen as seme to haue no end: as though there were no god which either seeth their calamity, or the impietie and outragious cruelty of the enemies of the word. He signifieth therefore that they haue neede of continuall patience, not for a day or two, but all the dayes of their life. So that they which haue the worde must assuredly purpose and determine, neuer to departe from God, although they should suffer the same afflictions a thowsand yeres together. How mauy haue we seene in these our dayes which haue fallen away (yea and such also as sometime did stand,) when the fruite of the word was hindred through persecution, like as the Sunne dryeth vp and withereth the corne that is sowen in a stony ground?

Wherefore we must learne that the patience of the faithful, as it is in this verse described, is such as is ready to offer their backs vnto the plowers, and to suffer not for a day nor for a yeare, but for the time of their whole life. For he compareth afflictions to the long plowing in the backe of the faithfull: Like as our Sauiour Christ also signifieth when he saith: He that continueth to the ende, shall be saued. For to beginne is not enough. And that patience which hath her boundes and limites prescribed, may be found euen among the Gentiles. But the patience of Christians is perpetuall, that is to say, such a patience as seemeth to be infinite and without ende, for the ende thereof doth not appeare. Like as on the other side, the ende of their consolation appeareth not: So that those thinges which seeme to be moste contrary, are here ioyned togither, that is to say, the length and the long continuance of the furrowes in the back of the faithfull, and the victory of the faithfull singing of those which driue the plow: They could not preuaile.

Moreouer this great and long continuance of the furrowes in the backe of the faithfull includeth suche an offence as no carnall wisedom is able to ouercome: namely yt the wicked doe not onely prosper, but their felicitie also continueth long, so yt it semeth to be as a reward of their tyranny, their persecution & malice against ye church. For if God would suffer their tyranny but for a litle time, & spedely reward thē according to their deserts, we should al then say that God is mindful of his children, & angry with the wicked. But now, since impietie and wickednes flourisheth many yeres togither, and the wicked stil continue and encrease in great felicitie, without punishment, the same is verified of them which Diogenes said of Harpalus, that they seme to giue a liuely testimony against the gods. Yea the godly are so vehemently tempted through this long continuance & fall so farre, that they thincke God hath no regard of them. Wherfore we must so arme our selues with Christian patience, that albeit we feele the tedious & long continuance of these furrowes, we be not therfore offended, but when one tentation is ouercome, we must prepare our selues to an other. For our backes must be alwayes ready to beare the long continuance of these sorrowes.

This is the first part of the Psalme, in the which he confesseth the diuine miracles and miraculous power of God, whereby he preserueth his children not only against ye world, but also against sinne, death and the deuill, and praiseth God for that he giueth victory to those that are ouercome, and putteth those to flight which doe ouercome. This ioyful ende and this successe he willeth vs to looke and waite for, and exhorteth vs to patience. Now he turneth him selfe to prayer, and not onely prayeth, but also promiseth to the enemies of the Gospel, that although they obstinatly continue in afflicting the faithful without checke or punishment, yet shall their ruine & ouerthrow be such, that they shall neuer rise againe: as experience doth shewe. For I pray you, what kingdom from the beginning of the world hath alwaies continued and prospered? The places and spaces of the earth doe remaine void and desolate & the kingdoms are gone as though they had neuer bene. Againe, the crueltie & tyranny of the kingdomes of the world was neuer so great, that it was able to oppresse the church. For the Church stil continueth & shall continue to the ende of the world, as followeth.