Psalm 126: The Joy of Returning

koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)
Visiting Professor
Department of Liberal Education
Kyungpook National University
Sangju Campus
South Korea
Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College
Australia

    It is a song of Ascents. The Psalm is giving us a feeling of how people were when the Lord brought them back from captivity. "When the Lord returned the returnees of Zion, we were like those that dream" (v. 1b-c). This is the literal Hebrew. There is no "to Zion" and no preposition is used. It is rather "of Zion" because Zion or God's remnant is where His faithful are. It is not geopolitical or geographical. It is geospiritual. Wherever the faithful of the Lord are, there the Lord are with them. In the process of moving, the returnees of Zion's mouths were filled with laughter and their tongues sang (v. 2a-b). Between verses 1c and 2b we have the databank of the returnees, which could have been information that was retold later or written down in a diary. In verse 2c we have again the Psalmist narrating that "then they said among the nations".
    In verse 2d the citation is from this earlier databank of the returnees whatever form it took originally, oral testimony or report or diary. What was said among the nations are the words of the returnees of Zion and also the nations themselves. In 2d we have the words of these nations: "The Lord magnified to make with these". The response of the returnees themselves from the databank are the same: "The Lord magnified to make with us" (v. 3a). The Psalmist is convinced that Zion returnees were extremely happy and blessed by great works from the Lord. Both faithful and unfaithful could see it. "We are the rejoicing ones" (v. 3b). The returnees were rejoicing.
The Psalmist could get more information from this happy occasion. Some prayed "Turn O Lord, our captivity as the streams in the dry land" (v. 4a-b).
The Psalmist knows the words or answer of God to their request:
"They that sow in tears, in joy shall reap" (v. 5a-b).
"Definitely going and weeping lifting up the measure of seed,
Definitely shall come in joy lifting his sheaves" (v. 6a-b).
    Someone said that this Psalm is a "pathetic Psalm" and a feeling of disillusionment underlies the Psalm but to the contrary, these people were exuberant and glad.
The Psalm in verses 5-6 has God answering promises to the faithful farmer who is a returnee from Zion, His faithful special ones. They will be looked after. They will not suffer. Faitfhul people in a sinful world and hostile environment has nothing to fear. God will provide and look after them. This is what this Psalm is all about.

Dear God
We live in this hostile environment with Satan under our feet but one day You will come to take care of this situation and resuce us from this burden. Grant that we will be part of those happy ones. In Jesus Name. Amen.
이 게시물을...