October 25 - Psalm 126

October 25 – Psalm 126: 1-6

This is another of the 'Psalms of Ascent' and would have been written during the timeframe of the captives returning from Babylon. Psalm 126:1-3 recalls the first captives returning from exile. Can you imagine the ecstatic, joyous singing and dancing that would have been occurring? In 570 bc, Cyrus decreed that Jews could return to Jerusalem. This is written about in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Beth Moore said in a Living Proof Live simulcast that the word ‘done’ in Psalm 126:3 (The Lord has done great things for us), is the Hebrew word ‘asah.’ This word actually means ‘producing, creating, making, working.’ In other words, the Lord took the mess that His people were in and created great things! That builds a lot of confidence for me. I can do nothing that the Lord can’t fix. Now, whether or not He will, that’s a different matter. But, I can’t screw the world up so much that His plan will not be accomplished. Thank you, God!

Psalm 126:4 reminds the singer that there were some who didn’t return. The Negev was a dried-up, scorched riverbed. Streams that could fill it would only come with torrential rains. Bringing everyone back would return Jerusalem to a flourishing community under the hand of the Lord.

They have much work ahead of them as Psalm 126:5-6 tell us, but as long as they are willing to work, the rewards will overflow.

The work that is spoken of here is two-fold: bringing the exiles home and returning the land to its former glory. The harvest will come, but only after we have toiled in preparation.

Jesus speaks of the harvest quite often and in Galatians 6:7 we are reminded that a man reaps what he sows. But, with the harvest that the Psalmist speaks of here, come songs of joy. I pray that the harvest He reaps from my life will bring songs of joy.