#psalm 126

A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

1 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad. 4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South. 5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. 6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. — Psalm 126 | New King James Version (NKJV) The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 12:9; Genesis 21:6; Deuteronomy 30:3; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 80:5; Psalm 127:1 Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 35:6; Joel 2:21; Luke 1:49; Acts 12:9; Galatians 6:9

the seeds of your kingdom / for the day you will reap them

your sheaves we will carry / lord, please do not tarry

When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. 

Psalm 126

The LORD has done great things for me. 

The Captivity

Like many of the Israelites experienced throughout time, I also was born in captivity. Not physically, but under another kind of captivity that was so hard to put my finger on. Everyone told me that I was free in Christ. That my sins were atoned for and I was going straight to heaven.

Even so, I used to lie awake in the darkness of my room, wondering why there was a church on every street corner of my city but God was nowhere to be found. I began to question–is there even a God watching over us? I hoped so. And if so, what was I supposed to be doing? A sort of existential crisis from beneath my covers.

As I grew up and saw the corruption of Christianity, and later, as I  started to study the Bible itself, I realized that I had been subject to the greatest deception. All my misunderstandings and ignorance of the Bible was the jail I had been locked in, and it was the devil who had made us believe that’s what freedom looks like. Freedom to be blissfully ignorant. 

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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

1 Our enemies took us away from Zion. But when the Lord brought us home, it seemed like a dream to us. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter. Our tongues sang with joy. Then the people of other nations said, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us. And we are filled with joy.

4 Lord, bless us with great success again, as rain makes streams flow in the Negev Desert. 5 Those who cry as they plant their crops will sing with joy when they gather them in. 6 Those who go out weeping as they carry seeds to plant will come back singing with joy. They will bring the new crop back with them. — Psalm 126 | New International Reader’s Version (NIRV) Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. Cross References: Genesis 12:9; Genesis 21:6; Deuteronomy 30:3; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 80:5; Psalm 127:1 Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 35:6; Joel 2:21; Luke 1:49; Acts 12:9; Galatians 6:9

Notes: Psalm 126 is a song of trust and confidence that uses metaphors to convey God's ability to bring joy from sorrow, laughter from tears, and good from evil. The psalm's message is one of hope, and it can be a source of comfort during times of deep sorrow.

Key Passages in Psalm 126

The LORD Has Done Great Things

(This Psalm was made after the return of the people from Babylon, and showeth that the means of their deliverance was wonderful after the seventy years of captivity forspoken by Jeremiah, in Jer. 25:12 and 29:10.)

1 When the Lord brought again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with joy: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.

3 The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoice.

4 O Lord, bring again our captivity, as the rivers in the South.

5 They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.

A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

1 Our enemies took us away from Zion.    But when the Lord brought us home,    it seemed like a dream to us. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter.    Our tongues sang with joy. Then the people of other nations said,    “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us.    And we are filled with joy.