Psalm 126 - Dreaming

Psalm 126:1-6 NIV

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those 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, Lord, like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 

Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, 

 will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

The thing about reading the psalms is to read them both as a one seeking understanding of Old Testament theology, history, and literary style, and as one seeking inspiration as we might with all scripture. Psalm 126 both gives insight to the historical reaction of the Israelites returning from exile in Babylon and it gives inspiration to pilgrims who journey toward a meeting with the Lord.

The psalm begins by giving insight to how the Israelites remember the story of their return from exile and the restoration of Jerusalem and Judea. It felt to them as if the were living in a dream. We might say when we are experiencing something wonderful, "Pinch me. I need to know I'm not dreaming." The joy they felt caused them to laugh out loud.

After 70 years in exile, the city of Jerusalem still lay in shambles, the temple a pile of charred rubble. Now the pilgrims march toward a newly built temple and Jerusalem once again stands beautiful and secure. The people of God come together to worship in the grand festivals of old. They come rejoicing to their God who has remained faithful to an unfaithful, but repentant people.

The nations remark that God has done great things for Israel. The restoration of Jerusalem and its temple is a wonder and a sign to the non-Jewish world. The Israelites are refreshed like the land is refreshed by streams of water flowing through the desert in rainy seasons.

And what is the moral to this story? What can be learned from the exile and restoration of Israel? The psalmist tells us that sad times are like planting seeds in the field. Later a harvest of joy will come.

The Israelites in exile endured the shame of the destruction of their beloved Jerusalem and the obliteration of the temple, the place where God said His name and presence would dwell forever. It seemed that all was lost.They were lost emotionally and spiritually destitute. But the Lord had not abandoned them as they might think. Though they wept bitter tears in their exile and endured punishment for their unfaithfulness to the Lord, they learned they learned the value of waiting on the Lord. They kept hope alive, for God continued to send them prophets to encourage them with messages from heaven.

Jeremiah told them to build homes and settle in the land of the Babylonians, to have children and live. They were to use the hardship of exile as a time of preparation for the future. God is going to bring them back and restore their fortunes.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 NIV

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

So the Hebrew exiles did as instructed.They settled in exile and lived. They prayed for the prosperity of their captors knowing that if Babylon does well, they too will do well. They increased in number having children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They encouraged one another and taught their children the ways of the Lord. Israel returned to the Lord and sought to be obedient unto to Him while living in exile. They planted seeds of righteousness. Though exile was saddening, their hope made them glad.

In time the exile shaped the people to be holy unto to God alone. They learned obedience to the covenant of their God. And when the time was right, when Israel was ripe and ready, God sent Persia to conquer Babylon. God put it in the heart of Cyrus the king of the Persians to release the Israelites and pay for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. They went back home.

There are times in life when we might feel lost like we are in exile, far from happiness, far from feeling safe at home with ourselves. The psalm reminds us that tears shed are seeds planted for a happy future for those who are bound to the Lord. Use times of sadness as times for turning closer to your God. Our tendency is to feel estranged from God when we are hurting. We may question God's goodness. We may wonder if God has abandoned us. Put these thoughts aside and remember the story of the Israelites. They once were lost, but now they are found. They once were blind to how their sins brought about their exile, but now they see with clarity the exact nature of their wrongs. They make amends in exile and learn to be faithful once more. Their faithful hearts are rewarded and they sing with joy at their restoration.

May you have hope that the Lord will restore you as well. So begin planting in your time of sadness and wait hopefully for your time of singing joyfully as you reap the harvest of your pain, the renewal of your soul.