Psalm 129 (128):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By stating "let them be like grass on the roofs," He emphasizes this analogy, not merely comparing them to ordinary grass but to that which grows on rooftops. While grass in fertile fields withers quickly, His intention is to convey the even greater insignificance of His foes by likening them to grass found in such an unyielding place, thereby illustrating their frailty on both accounts—by the nature of the grass and the quality of the location. He conveys that this is the nature of those who oppose—lacking both root and foundation, they may momentarily seem to flourish, only to be quickly exposed and disappear. Such is the fate of those who engage in wickedness, such is the allure of earthly possessions! They manifest briefly and then vanish without stability or strength. For this reason, we ought not to hold on to them, but rather, in light of their fleeting nature, we should pursue eternal, unshakeable truths that are not susceptible to change. Through the grace and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, may we partake in these everlasting gifts, with glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned for you, and you did not weep” (Matthew 11:17). Therefore, let Him continue to sing; we place our trust in God’s mercy, for there will be those who will offer us solace. Those who persist in wrongdoing, despite hearing the Word of God, continually disrupt the Church through their transgressions. This Psalm addresses such individuals, beginning with its poignant words.

They have fought against me many times since my youth (Psalm 127:1). The Church speaks of those whom she patiently endures, as if asking, “Is this happening now?” The Church has a long-standing existence: since the days the saints were first called, she has been present on earth. In past ages, only Abel represented the Church, while his unrighteous brother Cain opposed her (Genesis 4:8). At one point, it was only Enoch who embodied the Church, translated away from the wickedness around him (Genesis 5:24). There was also a time when only Noah's household represented the Church, enduring the trials of the flood while one ark sailed safely to dry land (Genesis 6-8). Similarly, there existed a time when only Abraham stood for the Church, bearing the weight of opposition from the wicked. The Church also resided in the household of Lot, as he endured the iniquities of Sodom until he was delivered by God from their midst (Genesis 13-20). The Church’s story continued among the people of Israel, as it faced Pharaoh and his people. Saints like Moses endured the wickedness of their own generation within Israel. And then we arrive at our Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel preached within the Psalms.

For this reason, let not the Church be astonished, nor should anyone within who desires to be a righteous member feel bewildered. Let them hear their Mother, the Church, say: “Do not be shocked by this, my child: many have fought against me from my youth.”

Now let Israel declare her response. It is as if she speaks of herself, answering a challenge posed by those who question the overwhelming calamities and scandals that seem to arise as ungodly individuals infiltrate the Church. Let the Church respond through her mightier members, voicing the struggles of the weaker ones, strengthening the unstable, guiding the immature, as she affirms: “Many times have they troubled me since my youth” (Psalm 128:2). May the Church boldly proclaim this, without fear. What does this phrase “From my youth” imply after the assertion, “Many have warred against me?” Presently, the Church is under the assault of those who seek to undermine her legacy, yet she should remain fearless. Has she not reached old age precisely because, from her youth, adversaries have not ceased to contend with her? Have they succeeded in erasing her from existence? Let Israel find consolation in the enduring examples of the past. Why do they strive against me? It is because they cannot overcome me.

“They have burdened me on my back; they have committed iniquity” (Psalm 127:3). Why do they wage war against me? Because they are unable to conquer me. What is the source of their offense? They cannot lean upon me. I do not endorse their sins. For every wicked person persecutes the righteous, simply because the righteous do not condone their wrongdoing. Imagine a sinner perpetrating an evil deed; if the bishop refrains from rebuking him, then the bishop is considered virtuous. But if the bishop does address the wrongdoer, he is labeled as corrupt. Let the sinful individual act without consequence while he remains silent about his transgressions; he is seen as good. Yet the moment he speaks out against sin, he becomes entirely wicked. Thus, it is the one who condemns the thief who is vilified while the robber is regarded as virtuous! Do not heed such words from an evil individual; rather, recognize the goodness of God’s Word. Place your accusations where they belong: if you must, challenge God Himself.

You accuse a person of greed, asserting that he blames God for the creation of gold. “Do not be covetous,” you say, “and God should not have fashioned gold.” This argument holds only if you refrain from the sins that lead you to accuse the goodness of God; the Creator and Designer of the universe becomes a point of contention for you. Why, then, should He also furnish the sun? Many quarrel over the light streaming through their windows and take each other to court. Oh, if only we could rein in our vices! All things are fundamentally good, as they are the handiwork of a benevolent God; His creations sing His praises to those who possess the wisdom and understanding to consider them deeply.

“Do not lend money for interest.” You decry the Scriptures that say, “He who has not given his money for increase...” This is not my decree; it was God who spoke this. Listen to God. He responds: the clergy should refrain from lending at interest. It may be that the one speaking to you does not charge interest; yet, if he should lend, does he who conveys this message do so with expectation of gain? If he obeys the commands of God while you do not, you will face consequences, and he will enter into the Kingdom while you encounter just judgment. But if he disobeys His commands and walks in wickedness alongside you, while proclaiming duties that he himself neglects, both of you shall face destruction in the fire. The chaff will perish, yet the Word of the Lord abides forever.

The righteous Lord will sever the strands of the wicked (Psalm 128:4). Who among us does not lower his gaze like the tax collector and plead, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner?” (Luke 18:13). If all are sinners and none are without sin, then all should be wary of the sword that hangs above their heads, for the righteous Lord will sever the necks of the wicked. I do not speak of all sinners as a collective; rather, He strikes at the members of those He judges. It is not said, “The righteous Lord will sever the hands of sinners,” or “Their feet;” but rather, the proud among them—including those who reject any acknowledgment of wrongdoing. When confronted, they justify their actions, as it is recorded in Job: “He runs against God defiantly” (Job 15:26); this pride fills the neck. They exalt themselves, refusing to bow their heads or acknowledge their faults. You should cry to Him, as I do in another Psalm: “Lord, have mercy on me, for I have sinned before You.” Yet if you refuse this plea and attempt to justify your actions against the Word of God, then the prophecy continues: the righteous Lord will sever the hangings of the wicked.

Let all who possess a malicious intent be put to shame and turned back, Zion (Psalm 128:5). Those who harbor hatred for Zion express disdain for the Church, for Zion represents the Church. Those who hypocritically enter the Church hold animosity toward her. Those who fail to uphold the Word of God betray their hatred for the Church: “They have built upon my back.” What can the Church do but endure this burden until the end?

But what is foretold regarding them? The next words assert: “Let them be like the grass on rooftops, which withers before being pulled up” (Psalm 128:6). The grass that grows on rooftops is visible from above yet lacks roots. How much more fruitful it would be if it grew in more fertile ground, where its flowers could bloom more vibrantly! In its current existence, it remains elevated, causing it to wither swiftly. It has not yet been uprooted, yet it displays signs of decay; they have yet to face God’s judgment and have none of the sap of vitality within. Observe their actions, and witness how they are indeed failing... The reapers will come, but they will not harvest from this crop. The reapers will gather the wheat into the storehouse, binding the tares and casting them into the fire. Thus, they will remove the grass from the rooftops, discarding all that withered before being gathered. The reaper will not fill his hands from there. The subsequent words reveal, “For the reaper will not gather abundance, nor he who binds the sheaves in his groove” (Psalm 128:7). The reapers are the angels, says the Lord (Matthew 13:39).

So those who pass by might say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 128:8). You know, beloved, when individuals pass by those working in the fields, it is customary to extend blessings: “The blessing of the Lord be upon you.” This greeting was especially common among the Jewish people. No one could walk past a worker in the field, vineyard, or during harvest without offering a blessing... But who are the passersby? Those who have journeyed from here to their eternal home along this path—Apostles and Prophets were among such travelers. Whom did these men of God bless? Those in whom they perceived the root of mercy. For those whom they found elevated among the pinnacles of their pride, they proclaimed judgment but withheld blessing. Therefore, those of you who delve into the Holy Scriptures will discover that all the wicked whose sins the Church has exposed and declared accursed have connected themselves to Antichrist, are akin to the devil, and belong with the tares. And those who assert that no one is sanctified unless God bestows it, and that no man can achieve goodness apart from God's gift; these invoke blessings in the name of the Lord and not for their own sake. Being friends of the bridegroom (John 3:29), they reject the treachery against the bride.

Jerusalem symbolizes a worldly vision, while Zion embodies a place of aspiration; the former reflects a life of moral strength, order, and tranquility, whereas the latter signifies one who has ascended to a higher perspective, echoing the sentiment of focusing on the invisible rather than the visible. Chrysostom notes that the church also experienced this reality; from the moment of its establishment, it faced relentless attacks—first from kings, nations, and wicked rulers, followed by the malice of heretics and widespread hostility. Nonetheless, all opposition ultimately failed, and the Church thrived.

Indeed, the righteous God has brought low many a persecutor of the Church, such as Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Antiochus, Nero, Domitian, Diocletian, and others among them. Thus, God's name is rightly associated with righteousness; even when He appears to condescend momentarily, He remains ever mindful of His justice, providing relief to His suffering people. As Paul indicates in 2 Thessalonians 1:7, it is essential for us to understand that the salvation of the Church is always aligned with God's righteousness.

Despite the cruel and prolonged oppression inflicted by their foes, the Lord continually humbled those arrogant adversaries (vv.3,4). Delasha ετεκτενον refers to something that has been made or established, likely suggesting the burdensome labor the Egyptians imposed. This painful and unjust suffering, known as ανομία, persisted for a considerable duration (εμάκριναγ), including the trials faced from the Philistines and others during the era of the judges. The phrase from Hebrew, on my back the wicked ploughmen ploughed long furrows, evokes imagery of the marks left by their lashes. In light of this distressing history, the oppressed express their hope that the Lord would humiliate the Samaritans and all enemies of Israel, bringing a swift and conclusive end to their hostility (v.6 -(v.8). The metaphor of grass on the ground (on the roofs) illustrates that in the East, roofs are often layered with soil where grass grows easily but lacks deep roots and quickly withers; it receives no care, is never harvested, nor bound into sheaves (the reaper often presses sheaves to his heart), hence the absence of customary blessings during harvest time (Ruth 2:4) (v.8). The implication is clear: may these adversaries soon become powerless (εξηρανθη) and hold in disdain (ουκ επληροσε την χειρα, etc.), stripped of all blessings (v.8).

Christ the Savior endured suffering for the salvation of humanity (Isaiah 53:4). The Jews persist in their sin, declaring: "His blood is on us and on our children" (Matthew 27:25). Those in sin, due to pride and an unwillingness to humble themselves in repentance, will face harsh judgments. Zion symbolizes the Holy Church, whose oppressors will ultimately depart in anguish upon hearing: Depart from Me, ye cursed. The unrighteous are barren and weakened, having failed to extend a helping hand for the sake of Christ, thus losing God's grace before death and for eternity, finding themselves separated from Abraham's bosom. Just as grass on rooftops withers before its time, so too shall the welfare of the unrighteous perish, along with the fleeting glory of worldly possessions (Chrysostom). In the afterlife, the ungodly will not receive praise or blessings eternally.