Bible Commentaries
Psalms 126

Verses 1-6

Psalms 126:1-6 :

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion ( Psalms 126:1 ),

Or when the Lord actually freed Zion from her captivity,

we were like those who dream ( Psalms 126:1 ).

How many times when we see the glorious work of God, it's just like being... it's just like a dream. It's just hard to comprehend. As the children were singing tonight, I was like one who was dreaming. I pastored little churches for so many years, when you dreamed of having a children's choir. And all of the efforts and time and all that we've put in in trying to develop something, and then to just see God do it. You're just sitting there; you're like one who's dreaming. I look at what God has done here, and it's like a dream. There's something that the reality has not yet sunk in. It's funny how that so often in my dreams I dream that I'm back pastoring one of the churches that I've pastored in years gone by and still struggling, and that whole struggle. And I dream that I'm... Man, when I wake up, I think, "Oh no, this is the dream, you know. This can't be real." God's glorious work that we see.

And so the psalmist, "When God worked, delivered Zion, we were just like those that dream." So excited in what God was doing. It just... the reality of it just hardly seem to register.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD has done great things for them ( Psalms 126:2 ).

Oh, how neat it is to just have that kind of joy and freedom to just be able to laugh over the good things that God does.

The LORD has done great things for us; whereof we are glad ( Psalms 126:3 ).

Then the prayer.

Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. For they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him ( Psalms 126:4-6 ).

I think that herein is speaking of really the ministry in a sense. Jesus when He spoke of the sower going forth planting the seed, some fell on the wayside, some among the rocks and some among the thorns, others on good ground. Jesus likened the field that was being sown as the world; the seed is the Word of God. And I think that the reference here is much the same as similitude, as we see being the Word of God, and "they that go forth weeping, bearing the precious seed, shall doubtless come again. Those that sow in tears shall reap in joy." I think that the attitude with which we go forth is so important.

Paul the apostle said, "For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the glory may be to God, and not of us" ( 2 Corinthians 4:7 ). The glorious treasure of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the glorious treasure of the Word of God, it's in this earthen vessel. Jesus Christ dwelling in me, the most valuable thing in the universe in this cheap, common clay pot. Earthen vessel is a clay pot. It's a pot made out of earth, out of clay. So God has taken the glorious treasure and He has put it in this common old clay pot. Now anytime I think that this pot is important, then I'm a crackpot. God did the ridiculous. In order that we would not glory in the pot, in the vessel, but that we would glory in the contents.

Now God wants me to pour forth His love to the needy world around me in such a way that they are captivated by Him, not by me. That they're drawn to Him, not to me. So my attitude in going forth is so important. For if I go forth in a haughty attitude, "Well, here I am, you lucky people, you know." And you go forth with this haughty air, God will put you down. "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted; and he that exalteth himself shall be abased" ( Luke 14:11 ). And God has interesting ways of abasing a person. Just really letting you fall right on your face in front of everybody. You know, just when you're trying to show how graceful and how marvelous you are, zoom... right on your nose.

In going forth it should always be with that sense of awe. "Oh God, I am nothing. But what a glorious treasure I have to share with the world. What a privilege to be a servant of God and to be the instrument through which God works." Never, "Oh God, I understand why You chose me. You've made a good deal when You got me, Lord."

I heard of this church that had just called a new minister fresh out of seminary and he had graduated magna cum laude and he really thought that he had it all together. And so his first Sunday morning, he came in dressed impeccably, cuff at the right length and his sermon was just homiletically perfect, and you know, just everything was just, I mean, he was the epitome of perfection. Came in with that, "Folks, I've got it together" kind of an attitude, you know. And, "How fortunate you are that you called me to be the pastor of your church."

But as he tried to deliver his message, he got confused. He got mixed up. He lost his place. He couldn't get it together. The thing just fell apart and was in shambles. And finally he just stood there, and he was just so confused he couldn't say anything. And he just broke down and he started to weep. And he turned and left just broken, when a dear little saint down towards the front turned to her friend and said, "If he had come in like he went out, he would have gone out like he came in." That's pretty much what this psalm says. "He who sows in tears will reap in joy." Going forth weeping, bearing the precious fruit, you'll doubtless come again bringing the harvest, the sheaves with you. Our attitudes--so important. "