Martin Luther on Psalms 129:3

Verſe 3. The Plowers plowed upon my back, and they made long furrows. See what unlike and almoſt contrary things he joyneth here together. Before he comforted the faithfull, that the enemies ſhould never be able to do any thing againſt the Church, becauſe it is invincible and cannot be overcome: and here he complayneth that they plow upon the backs of the Church, and make ſuch furrow, as ſeem 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 vex and afflict the Church, that he giveth ſucceſs unto their wicked counſels and attempts; that he ſuffereth the ungodly even then to proſper when they are moſt worthy to be puniſhed with all manner of torments, and utterly conſumed. On the othe other ſide, the godly, the more they pray, and the more they hope, the leſs ſeemeth their prayer and their hope to take effect: Every day are they more and more afflicted: every day there is leſs and leſs hope left. Wherefore this ſimilitude is well applied unto them in that they are compar'd to a ground which is continually plowed; wherein ſuch furrows are drawn as ſeem to have no end; as though there were no God which either ſeeth their calamity, or the impiety and outragious cruelty of the enemies of the word. He ſignifieth therefore that they have need of continual patience, not for a day or two, but all the days of their life. So that they which have the word, muſt aſſuredly purpoſe and determine, never to depart from God, although they ſhould ſuffer the ſame afflictions a thouſand years together. How many have we ſeen in theſe our days which have fallen away, (yea and ſuch alſo as ſometime did ſtand) when the fruit of the word was hindred through Perſecution, like as the Sun dryeth up and withereth the Corn that is ſown in a ſtony ground? Wherefore we muſt learn that the patience of the faithful, as it is in this verſe deſcribed, is ſuch as is ready to offer their backs unto the Plowers, and to ſuffer not for a day nor for a year, but for the time of their whole life. For he compareth afflictions to the long plowing on the back of the faithful: Like as our Saviour Chriſt alſo ſignifieth, when he ſaith, He that continueth to the end ſhall be ſaved. For to begin is not enough. And that patience which hath her bounds and limits preſcribed, may be found even among the Gentiles. But the patience of Chriſtians is perpetual, that is to ſay, ſuch a patience as ſeemeth to be infinite and without end; for the end thereof doth not appear. Like as on the other ſide, the end of their conſolation appeareth not. So that thoſe things which ſeem to be moſt contrary, are here joyned together; that is to ſay, the length and the long continuance of the furrows on the back of the faithful, and the victory of the faithful, ſinging of thoſe which drive the Plow, They could not prevail. Morever, this great and long continuance of the furrows on the back of the faithful, includeth ſuch an offence as no carnal wiſdom is able to overcome; namely that the wicked do not only proſper, but their felicity alſo continueth long, ſo that it ſeemeth to be as a reward of their Tyranny, their perſecution and malice againſt the Church. For if God would ſuffer their tyranny but for a little time, and ſpeedily reward them according to their deſerts, we ſhould all then ſay that God is mindful of his children, and angry with the wicked. But now, ſince impiety and Wickedneſs flouriſheth many years together, and the wicked ſtill continue and increaſe in great felicity, without puniſhment, the ſame is verified of them which Diogenes ſaid of Harpalus, That they ſeem to give a lively teſtimony againſt the Gods. Yea the godly are ſo vehemently tempted thro' this long continuance, and fall ſo far, that they think God hath no regard of them. Wherefore we muſt ſo arm our ſelves with Chriſtian patience, that albeit we feel the tedious and long continuance of theſe furrows, we be not therefore offended, but when one tentation is overcome, we muſt prepare our ſelves to another. For our backs muſt be always ready to bear the long continuance of theſe furrows. This is the firſt part of the Pſalm, in the which he confeſſeth the divine miracles and miraculous power of God, whereby he preſerveth his children not onely againſt the world, but alſo againſt Sin, Death and the Devil, and praiſeth God for that he giveth victory to thoſe that are overcome, and putteth thoſe to flight which do overcome. This joyful end and this ſucceſs he willeth us to look and wait for, and exhorteth us to patience. Now he turneth himſelf to prayer, and not only prayeth but alſo promiſeth to the enemies of the Goſpel, that although they obſtinately continue in afflicting the faithful without check or puniſhment, yet ſhall their ruine and overthrow be ſuch, that they ſhall never riſe again; as experience doth ſhew. For I pray you, what Kingdom from the beginning of the world hath always continued and proſpered? The places and ſpaces of the earth do remain void and deſolate, and the Kingdoms are gone as though they had never been. Again, the cruelty and tyranny of the Kingdoms of the world was never ſo great, that it was able to oppreſs the Church. For the Church ſtill continueth and ſhall continue to the end of the vvorld, as follvveth.