God is our source of joy and happiness. Psalm 126

elpastor (73)memberin HeartChurch • 3 years ago

Psalm 126 is a joyful song that expresses the joy of the people of Israel upon their return from Babylonian captivity to their beloved land of Zion. Seventy years of captivity had passed and the greatest longing of the people of Israel was to return to their beloved homeland. The psalmist captures this joy in the composition of Psalm 126:

When the Lord brings back the captivity of Zion,
We shall be like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth shall be filled with laughter
and our tongue with praise;
Then shall they say among the nations:
Great things hath the LORD done for these.
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
we will rejoice.
4 Bring back our captivity, O LORD,
as the streams of the Negev.
5 He that soweth in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He who bears precious seed will go weeping and mourning;
But he shall return with joy, bringing his sheaves. Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960).

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Returning to Zion was Israel's longed-for dream while in Babylon. The hearts of the people leaped for joy and gladness when they set out on the return march to the land that God had given them as a promise made to their fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
All was joy and praise. To return from captivity was to compare it to a dream that generates rest and great repose on the soil of their beloved homeland. To be back in the land of Jerusalem and in all the territory of Israel, awakened in the hearts of the people an indescribable joy. On the lips of all the people there was only laughter and praise. The song of thanksgiving to God for allowing them to return to their land, generated a resounding praise and joy that came from the love of God and that the people manifested in a song of gratitude.
If we review the first two verses of this song, it will bring to the memory of Christians the day when God brought us out of the captivity of sin and our hearts were filled with joy and our mouths with laughter. In particular, my soul was filled with a wonderful joy whose source came from God and my mouth did not cease to sing praises of joy to the mighty God who gave me salvation in Christ. I believe that this experience is unforgettable for every person who has had a new birth in Christ Jesus. This leads us to understand the immense joy of the people of Israel when they returned from the Babylonian captivity and in their hearts said:

When the LORD returns the captivity to Zion,
We shall be like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth shall be filled with laughter
and our tongue with praise;
Then shall they say among the nations:
The LORD has done great things for them. Psalm 126: 1-2

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The mighty works that God does in our lives should be recognized and exalted as jewels of high value and esteem for our lives. What God had done with the people of Israel was something very great that awakened in them joy and deep happiness, after having been captives for 70 years in pagan and distant lands. Knowing that everything was ready to return to their land, was a reason to rejoice, and the people said in their hearts:

3 The Lord has done great things for us;
We will rejoice.
4 Bring back our captivity, O LORD,
as the streams of the Negev. Psalm 126: 3-4

The years of desolation and wilderness had passed and now, everything was like a hope to see the waters of the Negev running through the whole territory of Israel with great joy and a song of great happiness.

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The days of anguish, pain, suffering and tears had passed and it remained for the people to reap the harvest of the hope of being once again in the glorious land of Zion. The 70 years passed in desolation and much sadness for the people of Israel for being in a pagan land of suffering and pain. However, the day of rejoicing and returning with abundant joy to their beloved land has arrived.
May this experience of the people of Israel serve the Christian people, so that we may stand firm on the mighty rock that is Christ and not fall into Israel's error of abandoning God to serve idols. The Christian people must remain firm in faith and in the hope that God will help us in times of distress and tears, if we remain in faith in Christ. The psalmist said:

5 Those who have sown in tears will reap in joy.
6 He who bears the precious seed will go weeping and mourning;
But he will return with joy, bringing his sheaves. Psalm 126: 5-6

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When Israel returned from captivity to their land, they did so with great joy and praise, recognizing that the Lord treated them with arms of love and mercy. God treats the Christian church in the same way. Let us serve God faithfully without forgetting that He is faithful and true and hates every act of idolatry. Let us sing with joy recognizing that the source of our joy and praise comes from God.