Psalm 126 - They That Sow in Tears Shall Reap in Joy!

 

Psalm 126 King James Version Commentaries by Dennis Edwards

126:1-2 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.

Scholars believe the present psalm may have been written by Ezra or those with him during his return to Jerusalem after the 70 years of Babylonian captivity. We remember that after Babylon was over-thrown by the Medo-Persians, that Cyrus, the king of Persia, made a decree concerning the Israeli captives in Baylon.

Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

4 And whosoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

Imagine what joy and unbelief at the same time the people felt when they heard of such a decree. After 70 years of captivity under the Babylonians, now they were allowed to return to their own land and to help rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Could it really be true? Were they dreaming?

I remember suffering under a period of persecution when my own children were taken from me because I was home-schooling them. Relying on false accusations, the police raided our home with the Social Services and abducted our children. I was arrested and detained for belonging to an “illegal association,” in other words, a terrorist group. I was also accused of fraud and of “abuse of minors,” where the abuse consisted of not having my children enrolled in a public school. I was living in Spain at the time.

For three months we were not allowed to have contact with our children. Finally, after many tears and much sorrow, approximately one year since they were abducted, the Regional Court sided in our favour and the children were coming home. “We were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing.”

That’s how we feel when an unexpected good comes upon us after we have been suffering under a weight so heavy we have been unable to lift it. “Is it true? Are the children really coming home?”

In a legal fight with the government and the press, it was surely the case of David against Goliath. Even five years later when in both the Criminal Case and the Civil Case we were found innocent of all charges, people believed we were still in jail. Our arrest and the abduction of the children had made headlines and news clips. Our release and eventual court victories were hidden somewhere in a page not readily seen. Our friends responded as the psalm decrees: “The Lord has done great things for them.”

We knew it was the Lord, because we were not strong enough to fight City Hall with all its power and wealth. God did not fail us. He raised up advocates in our defence.

Psalm 126:3 The Lord has done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

We were so glad. We could hardly believe it. Were we dreaming? As believers we have so much to be thankful for. The persecution we went through with the removal of our children forcibly by the Spanish Social Services and the providential police was mild by comparison to others who have suffered persecution before us. The regional court judge had accused Barcelona of acting like Inquisitionists, or like those from behind the Iron Curtain. In the Civil Case, the idea of “Home-Schooling” was introduced into Spanish Law and became an acceptable form of education.

Psalm 126:4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.

Matthew Henry wonderfully explains the verse. “These verses look forward to the mercies that were yet wanted (or needed). Those that had come out of captivity were still in distress, even in their own land (Neh 1:3), and many yet remained in Babylon; and therefore, they rejoiced with trembling, and bore upon their hearts the grievances that were yet to be redressed. We have here, a prayer for the perfecting of their deliverance (v. 4): " Turn again our captivity. Let those that have returned to their own land be eased of the burdens which they are yet groaning under. Let those that remain in Babylon have their hearts stirred up, as ours were, to take the benefit of the liberty granted." 

Henry continues, "The beginnings of mercy are encouragements to us to pray for the completing of it. And while we are here in this world there will still be matters for prayer, even when we are most furnished with matters for praise. And, when we are free and in prosperity ourselves, we must not be unmindful of our brethren that are in trouble and under restraint. The bringing of those that were yet in captivity to join with their brethren that had returned would be as welcome to both sides as streams of water in those countries, which, lying far south, were parched and dry. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so would this good news be from that far country, Prov 25 25."

Psalm 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Much of our sowing in this life is with tears. The suffering we go through softens our hearts that we may be able to feel the need and suffering of others and in some way be a balm of surcease, that we may ease their suffering. Though we may ourselves be weeping, we need to be about the Lord’s business.

It reminds me of the story in 1 Samuel 6. The Philistines wanted to return the Arc of the Lord which they had captured from the children of Israel. It was causing havoc in their land. They asked their priests what they should do. In the end, they took two milk cows, that is, cows who still had calves they were feeding. They had them pull a cart with the Arc of the covenant on. The milk cows returned with the cart to the land of the Israelites “lowing as they went.”

The milk cows carrying the Arc of the covenant, left their young calves, and under the conviction of the Holy Spirit climbed the hill to bring the Arc back to the Israeli people. As they moved along, they cried after their calves who they had to leave behind. When they crossed the border into Bethshemesh, they stopped in the field of Joshua. The people rejoiced and the cows were sacrificed, the wood of the cart used as firewood.

Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit let us go forth even though we may be weeping under our own suffering. Let us go forth with the word and the love of God to help relieve the suffering of others. Let us give them His word that it may encourage them. Let us show them His love, that it may comfort them. Let us weep with them that weep and rejoice with them that rejoice.

Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted….Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled,” Matthew 5:4&6. How shall they be comforted, and how shall they be filled, if we remained secluded in our blessing? Our own suffering enables us to be able to minister to those that suffer and are in need.

Here's a famous hymn based on the last line of the psalm.