DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
\Home\

Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2015 June 10



Mars (March) - (1412-1416)
Limbourg Brothers: Les tres riches heures du Duc de Berry: Manuscript (Ms. 65)
International Gothic Style
Musee Conde, Chantilly, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Psalm 129 the Psalmist acknowledges God's blessings to Israel and announces curses upon their enemies. Today's image depicts plowing, in reference to the metaphor in verse 3 which describes Israel's enemies as plowmen who plowed their back and made long furrows upon it.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: TYPES OF PSALMS: Psalms of Ascents: Psalms 120-134. Psalm 120. Psalm 121. Psalm 122. Psalm 123. Psalm 124. Psalm 125. Psalm 126. Psalm 127. Psalm 128. Psalm 129. Psalm 130. Psalm 131. Psalm 132. Psalm 133. Psalm 134. Hallel Psalms: The Egyptian Hallel -- Psalms 113-118: Psalm 113. Psalm 114. Psalm 115. Psalm 116. Psalm 117. Psalm 118. The Great Hallel [Group of Psalms] -- Psalms 118-136: Psalm 118. Psalm 119. Psalm 120. Psalm 121. Psalm 122. Psalm 123. Psalm 124. Psalm 125. Psalm 126. Psalm 127. Psalm 128. Psalm 129. Psalm 130. Psalm 131. Psalm 132. Psalm 133. Psalm 134. Psalm 135. Psalm 136. The Great Hallel [Single Psalm] -- Psalm 136. An Individual Hallel -- Psalm 145. The Concluding Hallel -- Psalms 146-150: Psalm 146. Psalm 147. Psalm 148. Psalm 149. Psalm 150. COMMUNAL PSALMS OF THANKSGIVING: Psalm 65. Psalm 66. Psalm 67. Psalm 75. Psalm 107. Psalm 118. Psalm 124. Psalm 129. Psalm 136. IMPRECATORY PSALMS: Psalm 5. Psalm 10. Psalm 17. Psalm 35. Psalm 58. Psalm 59. Psalm 69. Psalm 70. Psalm 79. Psalm 83. Psalm 109. Psalm 129. Psalm 137. Psalm 140. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 129 - #1. Psalm 129 - #2. Psalm 129 - #3. Psalm 129 - #4. Psalm 129 - #5. Psalm 129 - #6. Psalm 129 - #7. Psalm 129 - #8. Psalm 129 - #9. Psalm 129 - #10. Psalm 129 - #11. Psalm 129 - #12. ]

     Israel was afflicted (vexed, distressed) many times from the beginning of the nation; but their enemies did not prevail against them (1-2). Metaphorically, the plowers made long furrows upon Israel's back; but the righteous LORD delivered them by cutting the cords (bonds) which the wicked used to bind them (3-4). The Psalmist pronounces curses upon Israel's enemies. He asks that they will be confounded and turned back (5). He asks that they will be like grass upon the housetops which withers before it grows and cannot be gathered nor bound into sheaves, which do not inspire the blessings of those who pass by (6-8).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK FIVE OF FIVE:

Psalms 107-150.


Psalm 129

1 A Song of degrees. *


Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
4 The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.


* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]




Home | DAWN Archive

Tomorrow's Picture: TBA

     ADDITIONAL AD LIB MATERIAL: Prose, Poetry, Writers, Visual Artists, Music, DAWN, and ILLUMINATION. ILLUMINATION features a compact, Illuminated Bible. DAWN, the page you are presently visiting, features a new image and explanation daily.

Please Email Comments and Questions To

AD LIB ARTS EMAIL
copyright 2014, Scott Souza