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Psalm 126

This "song of ascents" is a one of hope realized and joy fulfilled, a song that would not only echo throughout the ruins of Jerusalem after the joyous deliverance from the Babylonian captivity, but from the long-silent hills as well. 

It's a song of pent-up emotion, a song of joy bursting forth after a long and dreary time.  This song, in fact, may have been the first of its kind to be sung by the people after the 70 years in Babylon.  The temple had been destroyed, the city was in ruins, the people who sang were camping among the ruins - but they were BACK!  They could go up to Mt. Zion, to the ruins that were there, and they sang as they went.  Having arrived, they would read from the Torah and worship their God!  It was more than wonderful to have that privilege again!

For such people, it was indeed "like those who dream."  But they were determined to fully enjoy that "dream!"  It would be easy to join in with their leader when he sang, "our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing!"  They could imagine the peoples for miles around astonished at God's grace and mercy in bringing them back.  They themselves, in fact, were just as astonished as anyone else.  They virtually shouted, "The Lord has done GREAT things for us, and we are GLAD!"

But it also had to happen - their thoughts went back to Babylon, back to the many of their brethren who were still residing, residing and longing, as they themselves had been, to return to their land.  The returnees pray for them: "Bring back our captivity, O Lord, as the streams of the south."  It's a reference to the wadi (often-dry streambeds) in the south of Israel, whose waters occasionally returned when the rains came abundantly.  Their prayer is that the returning people will once again flood back into the land.

It had been a very difficult time, but it had also been just and righteous chastisement from their Lord - they knew they had deserved it.  In this song, in fact, they reflect on that lesson.  They sing, "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him!"  The people had indeed sown in tears, for they had had to leave their untended crops in the fields 70 years before.  But, having sown the tears of repentance and sorrow, they return this day from fields that are sown again, fields that are once again yielding crops of grain, and they were bringing the sheaves with them!  What joy!  What thanksgiving!

The lesson is that repentance is good, that its results are blessings from their redeeming, forgiving God!  That's still the lesson for us is it not?  Is it a lesson you've learned?  Has sin brought sorrow and tears to you at times? Then, when you're delivered, you "shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing your sheaves with you!"  Only do remember to pray for brothers and sisters who are still in sin's "captivity."