Ascending to the House of God

Our Joy — Psalm 126

In Psalm 126 the song moves up another scale. Here is our joy. Zion’s pilgrims go from blessing to blessing as we move through this world, worshipping our God, “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

            “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream” (v. 1). — When the Lord God turned us by his almighty grace from the captivity into which we were brought by Adam’s fall, we were overwhelmed with joy because of his grace. Truly, his saving grace is “amazing grace;” and the sound of it is sweeter every day!

            “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” (v. 2). — Not only does he fill our mouths with laughter, our God makes his saved children a wonder among the wicked, transforming corrupt and corrupting sinners into instruments for good (1 Cor. 1:26-30), making those who were a curse a blessing (Zech. 8:13).

            “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (v. 3). —Let the redeemed of the Lord ever rejoice in him, and show forth his praise continually. The Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed us. What a great work that is! It is a work of great wisdom, arising from great love, obtained by a great price, and brings us all the blessings of God’s great salvation in Christ our great Savior. And all who experience it are made glad by it.

            “Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south” (v. 4). — Though redeemed by Christ’s precious blood at Calvary, and by the power of his grace in effectual calling, so long as we live in this world we look for deliverance. Like Peter after his terrible fall, we must yet be converted, turned again by our God. And, soon, our very bodies shall be redeemed, turned from the captivity of mortality in the resurrection. The boundless river of God’s infinite grace in Christ shall make us glad forever.

            “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” v. 5). — As we seek the Lord by faith, seek to worship him and follow him, we sow in righteousness (Hosea 10:12). We seek him and worship him in tears of repentance. Soon, we shall reap with joy all the blessedness of everlasting life with Christ in glory. This is our day of sowing. The resurrection shall be the day of reaping (Rev. 6:19; 19:1-6).

            “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (v. 6). — This is but a repetition of the former verse of our song, expressing the certainty of the matter. The gospel of Christ is the precious seed (Luke 8:11) that God’s church sows in the earth. How precious it is! Let us sow it bountifully as we move through this world. In the last day it shall yield a harvest of indescribable greatness (Isa. 55:11).