Psalm 126

Here is another short but joyful Pilgrim Song for our encouragement.  The repeated words that tell us the cause of this joy is The LORD has done great things for them/us.  Let us first consider the context.

·        There are two references to captivity, first thanks for return from captivity (v1) and then a prayer for the Lord to bring back the captivity (v4).  It is most likely that this Psalm was written after the return from Babylon.  It gives thanks but then asks the Lord to bring back because not all returned from Babylon or from the other nations to which Israel had been dispersed. 

·        Further, the context is that this Song is in the collection of Songs of Ascents.  It has a message for pilgrims, those who desire to draw closer to God.  It is encouragement as the pilgrims make their way from wherever they live to the temple in Jerusalem. 

·        Let us also consider the context of the curse of the law.  Israel was in captivity because of her continued and growing disobedience to God.  When you read Deut. 28 and Lev. 26 you remember that God promised to judge Israel if she turned away from Him.  And if that turning away continued, it would eventually result in Israel being removed from the land by a hostile nation.  Thus as we read this Song let us remember what a great thing it is that God has done: He has kept his promise not to totally destroy Israel but to have mercy on her and bring her back.

The expression of joy is amazing.  We were like those who dream … our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with singing.  The joy is heightened by the misery and seeming hopelessness of the captivity.  Thus it’s a situation like streams in the South (the Negev, desert).  You are talking about a barrenness that can become oppressive; but then you come to one of those streams and you can hardly contain your joy.  That is the joy of these pilgrims.

If we can put ourselves in the place of the pilgrim on his way to Jerusalem, he might be concerned about how God will receive him when he arrives.  We often are reminded of our guilt for sin.  This can rob us of joy and make our journey difficult.  But then we remember what a great thing the LORD has done for us.  We remember the cross and the blood of Christ, the very thing Jesus told us to remember (1 Cor. 11:23-26). 

As we walk this life let us not allow our deserved captivity to sin be the focus of our thoughts.  Yes, those days were hard, and there are scars, and there are almost certainly lasting effects on ourselves and on our loved ones.  Let us remember that the LORD has done something great and powerful and magnificent for us.  And furthermore, as we come to bumps in the road that cause us to weep, and as we serve the LORD in difficult situations, let us remember that today’s tears of faithfulness will doubtless result in tomorrow’s joys and fruitfulness.