Psalm 126

A Song of Ascents.

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

The psalmist describes the celebration that followed the return of the captives from Zion. This remarkable, unprecedented event was so unlikely that it was just a dream to those in exile in Babylon. Seventy years earlier the land of Judah had been invaded by the Babylonians who wanted to make an example of them for their rebellion. They burned their cities, put many people to the sword leaving a few left to care for the land while about 5,000 were relocated in Babylon to be reeducated. It seemed like the end, a reversal of Abraham’s journey from Ur to the land of promise. And so when the new Persian king allowed their return, even funding it and guaranteeing their safety, it felt too good to be true. Like the unlikely birth of Abraham’s son Isaac, this fulfillment of an impossible dream evoked laughter and cries of joy. They couldn’t stop talking about it and this song was the result. This event was so remarkable that the pagan nations took note. Persia was taking a new approach to governance, would it be successful? But it really wasn’t Persia (and maybe Daniel’s advice?) -- it was YHWH who had done great things for them. The psalm reminds me of Psalm 30, a song of reversal -- “You have turned my mourning to dancing, my sackcloth to garments of praise.” Don’t ever give up hope. Don’t ever stop dreaming. Don’t let anyone convince you not to be an optimist when you are with the LORD. In Acts 2 Peter quotes the prophet Joel in describing a new generation that will dream dreams and see visions. This is the DNA of the church -- dreamers, visionaries, those destined to laugh at the surprising ways God is at work in the world. He has done it before. He will do it again. 

3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!

Verse 3 repeats the line from the previous verse, an example of stair-like parallelism found in the Songs of Ascents. This serves to emphasize and connect these two thoughts -- the LORD has restored our fortunes, my He restore us further. The psalmist uses a simile to illustrate this restoration. It is like streams in the Negeb. He is referring to seasonal desert streams which can flood in a downpour. During the rainy season the desert greens up, flowers bloom and life returns. This is another example of a surprising turn of events. When looking at a desert one might think that it is utterly inhospitable, but if we just add water, everything can change. Like water in the desert, YHWH is the key ingredient to bringing things back to life. Like the exile, this is a metaphor for resurrection. Captives returning from reeducation in a foreign land, flowers blooming in a desert -- these are rare and seemingly impossible events, and yet they happen. In the same way, those who trust in YHWH can be certain that streams will eventually flow in the desert and captives will certainly be released. If you are in a desert season, be confident that the seasonal rains will come. If you are trapped in a hopeless situation, be confident that the Deliverer is at work even now. The psalmist prays for restoration because the restoration is not complete. The people have returned to the land, but there is more to come. He gains strength in his faith for the future by reflecting on the great things that God has done in the past. He’ll surely do great things again. 

5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

The two verses are parallel to one another, the second adding specificity, giving us a clear picture of transformation. The farmer sows in tears. He is hungry. His family is hungry. And yet he must take the seed which could be ground, baked and eaten, and place it in the ground. He places it in the ground not knowing if it will rain at the right times to nurture his crop, not knowing if insects will devour its tender leaves, not knowing if the weapons of war will trample it before it can be harvested. He plants in tearful faith. He goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, not knowing what the next day holds, only that he is in pain now. However, the promise follows quite suddenly. Verse 5 in Hebrew is only four words - “those who sow” “in tears” “in joy” “shall reap”. The word for “joy” is elsewhere translated as “a ringing cry”. This is the full throated shout of a sports fan when his team wins the game. It is unqualified joy in the goodness of God. Verse 6 repeats the same message with more words and emphasis. The first two words of the verse are the same, indicating continuity, literally “going out, he goes out”. This is not a one and done experience. The sower goes out every day, day after day, in hopes of ultimately experiencing a harvest for his efforts. It is an act of faith for sure, but also sheer perseverance. When in a season of grief it seems that there are two things that help get us through. First, there is faith -- trust that ultimately good will come from our tears and suffering. Second, there is perseverance -- getting up each day and pushing through every hard thing, knowing that there is rest on the other side. The Christian hope is that the resurrected will experience that ringing cry of joy -- new bodies in a new heaven and earth, joyful reunion with those we have loved on earth, a home where there will be no weeping, crying or pain. There is another perspective on this psalm that comes from Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom. The gospel is a seed and we are the sowers. We plan those seeds often with great difficulty. Missionaries have gone throughout the world and made untold tearful sacrifices to plant this seed in the hearts of those who are unaware of it. Sometimes this involves tilling the soil for years just to prepare for the planting. Yet it is not in vain. The book of Revelation tells us that people from every tribe, nation and tongue will sing with ringing cries of joy because of the gospel, and this because faithful men and women planted those gospel seeds mingled with their tears.