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Day 257 (Psalms 129:1-8) (A Song of Ascents.) “Many times, they afflicted me from my youth.” Let Israel now say, “Many times they afflicted me from my youth, yet they did not prevail against me. They plowed on my back; they made their furrows long.” The LORD is righteous; He cut in pieces the cords of the wicked. Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his arms. Neither let those who pass by them say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you; we bless you in the name of the LORD!” When you feel pressed down with no relief in sight, you don’t want someone giving you false words of hope. The psalmist said people afflicted him from his youth, they did their best to bring him low and destroy his hope. His response was to praise God and ask God to destroy the wicked. He didn’t want anyone to give him God’s blessings because when they did, they mocked God. As Christians, you want words of encouragement when Satan comes against you. You want words of hope to lift you and give you strength. You can only find such words from those who know God and His Son, Jesus Christ. When someone who doesn’t know Jesus as their Savior and Lord, blesses you, it is the same as a curse. It means nothing to the person giving the blessing. It sounds good. It sounds like the person has your welfare in mind. Yet, words spoken by someone who doesn’t know God and your Savior Jesus Christ, don’t bless, they curse. It’s best to say nothing. Instead, praise God and let Him take care of the people who want to destroy your life with false hope. Let Him bring shame on their lives while you bless God and praise His name. Let’s pray: Father, let those who know You fill my life with Your words of hope and encouragement. Let Your blessing fall on me while You take care of those who want to destroy my life with meaningless words. Let me praise You and lift You high as I bless Your name for You alone are righteous. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 28 March 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay