A Psalm And A Prayer

Psalm 126

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.

Lord God, thank You. You give us the power to sow, even as we sow in tears. Today some of us are walking back and forth, weeping. Some of us are captive to the consequences of past sin and error. Our prayer is that we will stay faithful to You, the Faithful One. We will keep praying, and thanking, and giving, and serving, because we have Your assurance that there will come a day when we will rejoice. Though we long for the days of harvest, we also long to be found trustworthy in the days of sowing. So we thank You for the bag of seed, and we thank You for the fruit that has not yet appeared. We know that Your promise still stands: seedtime and harvest will not cease. We believe You, Lord. Thank You for being with us in every moment of the cycle. Please receive our praise today, in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Beneficiary.

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam spoke of the abiding benefits of grace. These benefits include:

v  Forgiveness of sin

v  Transformation of character

v  Fellowship and partnership with God and God’s people

Our pastor also noted that in Psalm 126, the expression of joy comes before the restoration of fortunes. The passage reads:

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev. (Psalm 126:3-4)

As we reflect on the goodness of God and are filled with joy, we are able to endure hardship. We understand that the God who loves us is the God who frees us. We are confident that the God who changes our character is the God who changes our circumstance. And though it may take a miracle for our circumstance to change, we still rejoice because we know God’s track record of doing the miraculous.

The psalm uses a particular phrase that I’d like us to reflect on today: streams in the Negev. Pastor Sam spoke of the wadi: a wadi is a channel or ravine that is dry until the rainy season comes. The soil in the wadi is so dry and hard that when the rain finally arrives, the soil is not able to absorb the water: the rain travels along the wadi as a raging river.

Maybe you are in a dry season, where nothing you’ve planted has grown. I pray that you will rejoice today: not because your circumstances have already changed, but because you have full assurance that God will work in you and through you, even as you wait for His blessings to overtake you like a flood.

This is Advent, the season of expectation. Expect God to show up in your Negev. 

God, our Father and Lord and King, thank You! We are forgiven… and we are transformed... and we rejoice in our relationship with You and Your people. May the world see You in us as we wait for deliverance and restoration.

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

With Soul And Voice, Rejoice...

When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men 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. (Psalm 126:1-3)

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)

Verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 126 acknowledge the stunned joy of the ancient Israelites who were released from captivity: “…we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter.” Later, in verse 3, the psalm shifts to the present tense: “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam shared a point that we can reflect on today: that which happened in the past has a present abiding significance. And in this present Advent season, we are encouraged by this truth: God, who has done great things for others, is here to do great things for us. Ancient Israel saw His mighty hand at work and they celebrated. Mary received His word from an angelic messenger and she celebrated. And we, who have read the stories of those who rejoiced in God, can ourselves break out into a psalm of joy!

Ancient Israel, your exile will end. Rejoice.

Mary, you will give birth to the Savior. Rejoice.

Reader, God will answer your faithful prayer. Will you rejoice in Him today?

O Lord, our Lord, You brought deliverance to people in the past, and You are here to bring deliverance to us now. We wait in anticipation, and we rejoice as we wait, believing that You will do great things for us.

All Scripture references from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Best Place To Live Is In A "Walk-Up".

As we begin reflection on Sunday’s sermon, let’s read the key passage shared by Pastor Sam. He pointed out that Psalm 126 is “a song of ascents”—one of several psalms that were traditionally sung as men walked up the hilly terrain to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem.

In today’s context, what does God find us doing as we proverbially “walk up the hill” to worship Him? Are we singing? Are we sighing? Are we so distracted that we forget Scripture’s protocol for how an individual ought to approach the King of kings?

Lord God, as we read Your word, please plant a song in our hearts. Remind us that as we sing praises to You, Your Spirit comes to help us climb every steep hill of life. We walk through our days anticipating entrance into Your Presence. Thank You for walking with us!

Psalm 126: A song of ascents.

King James Version:

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.

The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. 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.

New International Version:

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 Shadow Of Death; The Song Of Life.

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam encouraged us to remember the good things God has done for His people. As we remember our experiences of God in the past, we can be hopeful even in the face of present trials. Our pastor exhorted us to continue reflecting on the greatness of God as we live “in a world that is the valley of the shadow of death”. Our God, who is with us in exile, is the God who has poured His life into us: he can cause our hearts to rejoice!

Today let us read and consider Psalm 126, a psalm Pastor Sam referenced towards the end of the sermon. Some of us may even want to memorize it, so that as we go through our difficult days we can recall these encouraging words.

Lord God, we remember Your track record. You have done great things in our past; there is nothing that can hinder You from doing great things in our future. We praise You even as we see and experience the hardships of life in a fallen world. We trust You in full expectation of Your word and Your will being fulfilled in the earth. We love You and thank You for hearing the prayer of our hearts.

Psalm 126 (New International Version)

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.