A Song of Ascents.
v.1-4 Israel says: greatly have they persecuted me from my youth (the exodus, Hos 11:1); but they have not prevailed against me. They wounded my back with deep, long wounds (like Christ, Jn 19:1) like a plowman plowing his fields. But the Lord is righteous and he has freed me from their grip.
v.5-8 May those who hate Israel be put to shame, make them like withered grass that the reaper ignores. Let not the blessing of the Lord fall upon them (cf. Ru 2:4).
This psalm indicates that the life of faith is not pain free. There are many harsh realities to our journey here on earth. But the psalmist is confident that God will bring his judgment full circle. The plowmen who cut the furrows become the useless harvest in the end. Trust in God and you may get knocked around, but you will be victorious in the end (2 Cor 4:8-9).