Psalm 126 The Lord has done great things-A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
“When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”
If you have ever found yourself in what seems to be a no-win situation, this psalm is for you. Sometimes, through no faults of our own, we may do our very best, sacrificing time, energy, and resources to an organization, only to have our efforts spurned, scorned, or even criticized. We have contributed as much as possible, practically pouring out our heart’s blood; meanwhile, others have slid in to take credit for our efforts or to complain that we should have done things differently or done even more. No feeling compares to going from despair to jubilation when we feel everything is lost, only to find that God has delivered us.
“When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them. Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!” This is a psalm for pilgrims, so the captivity mentioned here might either refer to David’s exile during Absalom’s persecution or to the return of the captives under Ezra and Nehemiah. No matter which exile is referred to here, either one still represents a miracle. Both returns represented triumphs of survival against overwhelming odds.
David was a very popular king; however, Absalom stole the people’s affections by undermining his father, claiming that he was the only one who could really address the nation’s problems. Absalom was young, handsome, and charismatic, attracting many supporters, including David’s trusted counselor Ahithophel. David prayed that God would cause Absalom to ignore advice that would have resulted in death and destruction for David and his followers. Ultimately, David triumphed and returned to Jerusalem with great festivities.
Centuries later, the Babylonians carried many people from Judea to Babylon, where they lived for seventy years. When King Cyrus ordered the temple in Jerusalem to be re-built, groups under Ezra and later under Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, erecting a modest temple and the city walls. The trip between Babylon and Jerusalem was dangerous, extending several hundred miles, leaving travelers open to attack by marauders. When Nehemiah re-dedicated the temple and the city wall, it really was a time for celebration with parades, dancing, singing, and blowing of temple trumpets. Not everybody was happy about this successful reconstruction, for there were many surrounding countries more than happy to leave Judah in ruins.
“Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.” As I am writing this, social media is full of horrific videos of the flooding in Texas that has taken more than 51 lives and devastated untold numbers of communities. Many streams in the Texas hill country are small and insignificant, until catastrophic rainfall causes incredible flooding. The Guadelupe River at Ingram, Texas, rose from 0-26 feet in 45 minutes.
Israel has many stream beds that are dry for much of the year, until rains in higher elevations cause floods. When this psalm was written, farmers depended on the water and the silt from these floods to help renew desert lands so that crops would be successful. In modern times, Israel has led the world in the development of drip irrigation, a method in which water hoses with small holes at intervals precisely deliver water to individual plants, saving water and allowing deserts to bloom.
“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” God wants us to know that no matter how gloomy things appear right now, we must remain faithful. If we continue to do God’s will, He will give us success and multiply our efforts.
So, take heart! God is still on the throne and God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful. God will not allow His servants to fail, for He can fill in the gaps when our efforts and our energy prove insufficient. You can pray this psalm over your life, knowing that God will honor His Word. Romans 15:13 tells us, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” May God give you His Hope!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to continue even when things appear hopeless, knowing that You are the God of Hope. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment