Restoration (Psalm 126)

"Songs of Ascent" = ("Degrees") steps, stages, gradations, or ascending up a mountain, climbing"

The spiritual life is one of progress.

Psalm 126

¹ When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
² Then our mouth was filled with laughter
And our tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
³ The LORD has done great things for us;
We are glad.

⁴ Restore our captivity, O LORD,
As the streams in the South. 

⁵ Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. 

⁶ He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Theme:  Restoration

Key thought:  Sow in tears…reap in joy.

Key verse:  :1  When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion,

How is God revealed?  God brings back the Israelites from captivity.

“This psalm does not give us this joy as a package or as a formula, but there are some things it does do. It shows up the tininess of the world’s joy and affirms the solidity of God’s joy. It reminds us of the accelerating costs and diminishing returns of those who pursue pleasure as a path toward joy. It introduces us to the way of discipleship which has consequences in joy. It encourages us in the way of faith to both experience and share joy. It tells the story of God’s acts which put laughter into people’s mouths and shouts on their tongues. It repeats the promises of a God who accompanies his wandering, weeping children until they arrive home, exuberant, “bringing in the sheaves.”

— Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction  (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 97–98

Sing Psalm 126

(L. M. Sing to the tune of When I Survey The Wondrous Cross or Just As I Am)

 

1 When God restor'd our captive state,
Joy was our song, and grace our theme;
The grace beyond our hopes so great,
That joy appear'd a painted dream.

2 The scoffer owns thy hand, and pays
Unwilling honours to thy Name;
While we with pleasure shout thy praise,
With cheerful notes thy love proclaim.

3 When we review our dismal fears,
'Twas hard to think they'd vanish so;
With God we left our flowing tears,
He makes our joys like rivers flow.

4 The man that in his furrow'd field             
His scatter'd seed with sadness leaves,
Will shout to see the harvest yield
A welcome load of joyful sheaves.

Psalm 126:2. C. M.

(Sing to the tune of Amazing Grace, O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing,

O God Out Help In Ages Past)

1 When God reveal'd his gracious Name,
And chang'd my mournful state,
My rapture seem'd a pleasing dream,
The grace appear'd so great.

2 The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confess;
My tongue broke out in unknown strains,
And sung surprising grace:

3 "Great is the work," my neighbours cry'd,
And own'd the power divine;
"Great is the work," my heart reply'd,
"And be the glory thine."

4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night,
Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.

 

5 Let those that sow in sadness wait
Till the fair harvest come,
They shall confess their sheaves are great,
And shout the blessings home.

6 Tho' seed lie bury'd long in dust,
It shan't deceive their hope;

The precious grain can ne'er be lost,
For grace insures the crop.