1 When the Lord changed Zion’s circumstances for the better,
it was like we had been dreaming.
2 Our mouths were suddenly filled with laughter;
our tongues were filled with joyful shouts.
It was even said, at that time, among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them!”
3 Yes, the Lord has done great things for us,
and we are overjoyed.
4 Lord, change our circumstances for the better,
like dry streams in the desert waste!
5 Let those who plant with tears
reap the harvest with joyful shouts.
6 Let those who go out,
crying and carrying their seed,
come home with joyful shouts,
carrying bales of grain!
Reflection
If you are like me, and just read this Psalm, you might say what a wonderful story and how happy the people sound. Then I started to say to myself, why are they so happy, what came before. Psalm 126 comes after a profound and miraculous event, the liberation of the Jewish people from their 70 year exile in Babylon. A sudden reversal from slavery to freedom, from no future to the opportunity to return to their native land and rebuild.
I find it interesting that the Psalm notes how surrounding nations observed the homecoming and gave the Lord credit for what had been done by God for his people.
In 539 BCE King Cyrus issued a decree for the exiled Israelites to return to Jerusalem.
Cyrus believed he was fulfilling a prophecy, as mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, which portrayed him as a chosen leader. He promoted a policy of religious freedom, allowing various groups to worship their gods. By allowing the return, Cyrus sought to establish a legacy of benevolence and wisdom among his subjects.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
I have to give pastor Tony Evans full credit for this story illustration:
A while ago, a crack appeared in one of our bedroom walls. Knowing that repairing it was out of my wheelhouse, I called in a professional who quickly replaced the plaster around the crack and repainted the wall. We thought all was well. But we were wrong. Not long after that, the crack reappeared and this time was even worse.
I called the professional back and kindly let him know that he didn’t quite fix our wall. He offered to do the work again at no charge. I thought our problem was solved. Wrong again. A couple of months later, back again.
This time I decided to call a different professional because I was hopeful for a different outcome. The man came to our home, assessed the situation, and then proceeded to tell me that the problem I was facing was not a surface issue. Unfortunately, the cracks in the wall were due to a much deeper problem. We were experiencing a shifting foundation. He told us that until we stabilized it, we would forever be repairing cracks.
What a perfect metaphor for the condition of American culture today. Until we stabilize our nation’s spiritual foundation, no number of programs, government grants, or elections will be able to repair the cracks in our cultural walls. We cannot expect to fix the White House if we can’t even fix the church house. We, as the body of Christ, must come together across racial, economic, and denominational lines to repair our foundation so we can go and be the salt and light Jesus Christ created us to be in the culture.
Old Testament scripture is full of cycles. God’s grace brings people out of difficult times followed by a period of earnest worship and thankfulness followed by a period of decline. The people being taken to Babylon was God putting the people in a place and time where they were forced to rethink their faith and realize that God’s laws and love were superior to the emptiness and destruction surrounding them.
Where do you see our country and culture at?
What do you feel called to do that would help your family, friends, church…?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we come to you today, laying down our desires and tendency to care narrowly and instead open our eyes to the needs of others. Help us always to see every person as your creation, worthy of dignity, compassion and respect. Empower us to be instruments of peace, comfort and kindness. Amen
