Psalm 129 (128):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By saying, "let them be like grass on the rooftops," He emphasizes this simile, comparing them not merely to any grass but specifically to grass that grows in such a precarious place. While grass in rich soil might wither swiftly, He intends to illustrate the insignificance of His foes even more vividly by likening them to grass on rooftops, thereby highlighting their frailty in both essence and location. He conveys that this is how the designs of enemies are—they have neither roots nor solid foundations, appearing to thrive only briefly before they wither away on their own. Such is the fate of the wicked, and such is the fleeting nature of worldly treasures! They come into view for a moment, then vanish without stability or strength. Therefore, we should not cling to them, but rather, recognizing their temporary nature, we must aspire towards eternal, unshakeable truths that will endure. May we all partake in this through the grace and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory forever. Amen.

"We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we mourned for you, but you did not lament" (Matthew 11:17). Therefore, let Him continue to sing while we place our trust in God's mercy, knowing that He will provide comfort through His faithful servants. For those who cling to wickedness, despite hearing God’s word, disrupt the Church daily with their wrongdoings. This Psalm addresses them directly, as it begins with their struggle: "They have fought against me many times since my youth" (Psalm 127:1). The Church refers to those it patiently endures, as if inquiring, "Is it really now?" With roots tracing back to the earliest saints, the Church has endured throughout history. In the past, Abel stood alone for the Church against his treacherous brother Cain (Genesis 4:8). Enoch existed as the sole embodiment of the Church, being taken away from the wicked (Genesis 5:24). Likewise, Noah’s family represented the Church amid the devastation of the flood, with only one ark saving them (Genesis 6-8). Abraham too experienced the weight of isolation as the Church, facing the challenges presented by the wicked. Lot was also a lonely representative of the Church in Sodom, suffering through their transgressions until God rescued him (Genesis 13-20). The Church’s legacy continued among the Israelites who endured Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The saints emerged as part of this fold; Moses and other holy figures faced persecution from their own people. The message proclaimed through the Psalms now reaches us through our Lord Jesus Christ. In light of this, let not the faithful be astonished nor shaken by the trials within the Church today. Let them hear the voice of their Mother, the Church, say: "Do not be astonished, my child; many have fought against me since my youth."

Let now Israel express herself, seemingly responding as if to critics who lament the sufferings and scandals within the Church, exacerbated by the ungodly. Yet, the Church responds through her stronger members, allowing the steadfast to reassure the vulnerable as she declares: "Many times have they vexed me since my youth" (Psalm 128:2). The Church ought not to cower from this acknowledgment. What does it signify when she mentions "from my youth"? Even now, in her advanced years, she faces relentless attacks, yet she stands resilient despite many attempts to extinguish her light. Let Israel find comfort in the historical evidence of her perseverance. Why have they battled against me? Because they found no victory over me.

Upon my back, sinners have laid their burdens; they have committed their transgressions (Psalm 127:3). Why engage in warfare against me? Because their efforts have proven futile; they could not lean upon me nor find agreement in their sin. The wicked man targets the good because the latter stands against his deeds. Should a bishop fail to reprimand a wrongdoer, he is viewed favorably; if he rebukes, he is scorned. Wealth gained through deceit is deemed acceptable, while a call for justice makes one appear corrupt. Do not heed such flawed reasoning; it is through the heart of an evil one that such words reach you, yet the truth of God’s Word is pure and righteous. Challenge God if you dare.

You critique a person for greed but turn to blame God, condemning Him for crafting gold. "Do not covet," you say, perhaps assuming God is responsible for its existence. This remains unchallenged, for you cannot restrain your sinful nature, so you accuse the righteous works of the Creator, whose handiwork does not sit well with you. Why should He not create the sun when many exploit its light and bring others to litigation? Oh, if only we could curb our vices! All creation is good, for a Good God brought everything into being, and His works sing His praises. Those who possess a spirit of reflection, godliness, and wisdom behold the goodness of His creation.

Avoid lending with interest. You raise grievances against Scripture’s directive: "He who has not lent his money at interest." This word did not originate with me; examine God’s decree. He responds: clergy should refrain from such practices. Even if a person claims not to charge interest, we must ask: does He who speaks through him align with this command? If he obeys and yet you do not, you face eternal consequences, just as he will if he disobeys the command he preaches. The righteous remain steadfast, while the wicked risk judgment. "The righteous Lord will cut off the cords of the wicked" (Psalm 128:4).

Who can declare themselves sinless? Like the tax collector who humbly implores, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13), we all bear sin. If all are indeed sinners, then should they not dread the impending doom of divine judgment, for the righteous Lord will sever the ties of the wicked? I do not envision all sinners collectively; rather, He incisively addresses the specific transgressions of the unrepentant. It does not say He will slice off the wicked's hands or feet but their proud necks. The proud sinner not only engages in wicked deeds but also refuses to acknowledge their wrongdoing, justifying themselves when confronted. As stated in Job regarding the wicked, "He rushes against God with a thick neck" (Job 15:26), highlighting their pride and refusal to bow humbly or acknowledge wrongdoing. You must cry out to Him: "Lord, have mercy on me, for I have sinned against You." Yet, if you refuse to voice this and instead justify your actions against God’s Word, the subsequent consequences foretold will be upon you: "The righteous Lord will cut off the cords of the wicked."

Let all those harboring malevolence be shamed and turned back, Zion (Psalm 128:5). Those who despise Zion detest the Church, for Zion symbolizes the Church. Those who hide their malice while entering the Church do so in contradiction. Those who neglect God’s Word stand at odds with the Church; hence, they burden her through their misdeeds. What then does Scripture say of them? "Let them be like the grass on rooftops, which withers before it can be harvested" (Psalm 128:6). This grass grows on rooftops, observed from above but lacking depth. How much better would it thrive if rooted in the soil below, blooming joyously? In its elevated state, however, it withers quicker. It is not yet uprooted, though it has already begun to lose vitality. Observe their deeds, and witness their decay. The harvesters may come, yet they will not gather produce from them. They will separate the wheat and store it, binding up the tares to be cast into the fire. Thus, the grass on rooftops will be removed and incinerated, having withered before its removal, yielding no fruit for the reaper's hand.

The scriptural truth: "Why the reaper fills not his hand, nor he who binds sheaves in the floor" (Psalm 128:7). The reapers, it is written, are angels (Matthew 13:39).

That those who pass by may not declare: "The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 128:8). In traditional practice, it is customary to bless those at their labor, particularly among the Jewish people. No one passes by the diligent in the field or vineyard or during the harvest without extending a blessing. Who are these passers-by? They are those who have transitioned from this life to their rightful homeland—the Apostles and the Prophets among them. Whom did the Prophets and Apostles bless? Those in whom they discerned mercy. However, those they found proud and lofty, standing tall like the roof's grass, received no blessing but warnings of their destined fate. All whom the Church has brought forth yet declared accursed are aligned with Antichrist and the devil, likened to tares among the wheat. To those who maintain that sanctification only comes through God, and that goodness is a divine gift: bless in the name of the Lord, not of yourselves; as friends of the bridegroom (John 3:29), do not be unfaithful to the bride.

He notes that grass on structures does not endure long enough to produce fruit; it withers swiftly, lacking the necessary depth and nourishment, whereas other ground-grown plants typically wither after yielding fruit and are then harvested by farmers, having strong roots anchored in the earth, drawing moisture from it.

What an astonishing scene it will be to witness once-mighty individuals, who fancied their homes as secure as royal thrones and their domains as expansive as empires. Can you imagine the sight of these arrogant beings, cast down into the depths of Hell? Accustomed to indulgence and pleasure, they will be unable to withstand even minor distress, condemned to perpetual suffering with no hope of relief.

Despite having faced severe and prolonged oppression at the hands of their aggressors, the Lord has repeatedly subdued the arrogant adversaries (vv. 3-4). The reference to Delasha ετεκτενον signifies the labor endured in Egypt. This grievous and unjust oppression, ανομία, persisted for an extended period (εμάκριναγ) and included numerous trials during the time of the judges against the Philistines and others. The phrase from the Hebrew conveys the image of the wicked plowing long furrows upon their backs, bearing the marks of their lashes. In light of these troubling circumstances, the oppressed express their hope and confidence that the Lord would bring shame upon the Samaritans and all of Israel's enemies, swiftly and decisively ending their power (v. 6 - v. 8). The imagery of grass growing on the rooftops refers to eastern homes where roofs are often layered with soil that allows grass to sprout easily; because these roots are shallow, the grass withers quickly and is neglected, not harvested or gathered into sheaves. Thus, no one offers the usual greetings during the harvest (Ruth 2:4). This symbolizes a plea for the enemies to be rendered powerless (εξηρανθη) and held in contempt (ουκ επληροσε την χειρα, etc.), stripped of all blessings (v. 8).

The Savior bore His wounds for the redemption of humanity (Isaiah 53:4). The Jewish people continue in their wrongdoing, proclaiming, “His blood is on us and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). Those who are unrepentant and prideful will face destruction through suffering. Zion represents the Holy Church, whose adversaries will ultimately return in sorrow, hearing the words: “Depart from Me, ye cursed.” The unrighteous are without fruit, their hands weakened, as they did not reach out to assist those in need for Christ’s sake. Consequently, they shall be bereft of God’s grace before death, and in the afterlife, they will find themselves without hope of eternal life, excluded from Abraham’s bosom. Just as grass that grows on rooftops withers prematurely, so does the prosperity of the wicked, and such is the fleeting glory of worldly possessions (Chrysostom). The ungodly will not receive praise nor blessings in the life to come.

The grass on the roof grows taller than that on the ground; likewise, those who daydream create a lofty path to salvation, dissatisfied with the path ordained for them by Divine Providence. They believe that the grass on the rooftop is closer to heaven and more likely to receive the nourishing rain and sunlight, thinking that they are thus nearer to the grace of God and its spiritual blessings. However, while the grass on the earth sustains animals and sometimes feeds mankind, the grass on the roof yields nothing and is untouched by feet. Such individuals have not learned the essential lesson of humility and have not grasped the path of love, which sustains and revitalizes humanity. In time, the grass growing on the roof will wither, creating a mess for the building it rests upon, and when it is gathered, it ultimately faces destruction by fire. Those who elevate themselves in their quest for salvation thus risk producing a corruption within the Church; unless they are corrected, they will face judgment: they will be cast aside like a worthless branch, gathered up, and burned (John 15:6).