Psalm 126 - Sowing In Sorrow; Reaping In Joy.
Psalm 126 - Sowing In Sorrow; Reaping In Joy.
Psalm 126:1-6 (NLT) When the Lord brought back his exiles to
Jerusalem, it was like a dream! 2 We were filled with laughter, and we sang
for joy. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the Lord
has done for them." 3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy! 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.
5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. 6 They
weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return
with the harvest.
OVERVIEW
The series of psalms from 120-134 were special songs sung by
Jews who came from all over the world to Jerusalem to celebrate the
festivals. Each psalm is a "step" along the journey. Psalm 120 begins the
journey in a distant land; Psalm 122 pictures the arrival in Jerusalem;
the rest of the psalms move toward the Temple, praising and
worshiping God.
Here in Psalm 126 is a joyous reminder that God blesses his
people, here bringing them back from exile and restoring them. The
people celebrating would sing this psalm, remembering that at times the
nation had "plant[ed] in tears" but was now able to "harvest with
shouts of joy." That's why these people were singing songs of praise.
That's the God we worship. He can take our times of tears and
sadness and bring about a harvest of joy. And that's what happens when
we look past whatever circumstance is before us and choose to
praise God. When we praise him for what he has done, even through our
tears, we know that our tears will one day be turned to joy. And the
joy God gives is unquenchable and eternal. [The One Year Bible for
New Believers re Psa.126]
COMMENTARY APPLICATION
Some Christians are sadly prone to look on the dark side of
everything, and to dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon
what God has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian
life, and they will describe their continual conflicts, their deep
afflictions, their sad adversities, and the sinfulness of their hearts, yet
with scarcely any allusion to the mercy and help which God has
vouchsafed them. But a Christian whose soul is in a healthy state, will
come forward joyously, and say, "I will speak, not about myself, but
to the honour of my God. He hath brought me up out of an horrible
pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and
established my goings: and he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise
unto our God. The Lord hath done great things for me, whereof I am
glad." Such an abstract of experience as this is the very best that any
child of God can present. It is true that we endure trials, but it is
just as true that we are delivered out of them. It is true that we
have our corruptions, and mournfully do we know this, but it is quite
as true that we have an all-sufficient Saviour, who overcomes these
corruptions, and delivers us from their dominion. In looking back, it would
be wrong to deny that we have been in the Slough of Despond, and
have crept along the Valley of Humiliation, but it would be equally
wicked to forget that we have been through them safely and profitably;
we have not remained in them, thanks to our Almighty Helper and
Leader, who has brought us "out into a wealthy place." The deeper our
troubles, the louder our thanks to God, who has led us through all, and
preserved us until now. Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we
reckon them to be the bass part of our life's song, "He hath done great
things for us, whereof we are glad." [Morning and Evening by Charles H.
Spurgeon re v. 3]
Deliverance is just the beginning; God always wants to do
something more. He wants to make us rivers of blessing [Chapter by Chapter
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Psa. 126:4]
He also wants you to get to work in the harvest (vv. 5-6).
Whether it is plowing the field (Luke 9:62), sowing the seed, or reaping
the sheaves, God has a place for you. If you water the seed with
your tears, you will one day rejoice as you bring in the sheaves.
This is the formula for a harvest: going, weeping, sowing, reaping.
[Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Psa. 126:5, 6]
TESTIMONY
As a poet and songwriter, many times I have seen the beauty of
words and music rise, phoenix-like, out of the ashes of difficulty and
grief. These verses from Psalms (which are themselves poems and song
lyrics) speak to me about the redemptive process of art making. Although
my writing paper, mountain dulcimer, and wooden guitar would
probably thank me not to splash my tears on them quite so often, I view
them as my metaphorical "fields" in which I plant and, in time,
harvest.
For several years, I have had these verses from Psalm 126
posted beside my bed and on my refrigerator. They remind me that what I
see now is not what will always be. And I glean hope that even in
dark times, and often unbeknownst to me, seeds that will one day be
cause for joy are even now being quietly yet deeply planted. In God's
time, they will surely spring forth and sing.
Ahna Phillips, a poet, singer, songwriter, arts facilitator,
and creative-writing instructor, is involved with Masterpiece
Ministries, an organization whose mission is "to help young people identify
their gifts in the arts and to encourage them to become wholehearted
followers of Jesus Christ." [The One Year Bible Live Verse Devotional re
vv. 5, 6]
CONCLUDING THOUGHT
God never pretends that this life will be free of hardship or
pain, but He insists that, for those who know and love Him, our tears
are nothing but seeds that will bloom one day into enormous trees of
joy. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley re Psa. 126:5]
SPECIAL LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Absolutely Beautiful Song on the Blessed Hope:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Lk8xXp-fU.
Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/
Excellent Sermon Resource Site: http://www.pmchurch.tv/
Another Excellent Sermon Resource Site:
http://www.lluc.org/podcastlist.php
More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com
