Psalm 126
Treasury of David
Title. - A Song of Degrees. This is the seventh step, and we mall there fore expect to meet with some special perfection of joy in it; nor shall we look in vain. We see here not only that Zion abides, but that her joy returns alter sorrow. Abiding is not enough, fruitfulness is added. The pilgrims went from blessing to blessing in their Psalmody as they proceeded on their holy way. Happy people to whom every ascent was a song, every halt a hymn. Here the truster becomes a sower: faith works by love, obtains a present bliss, and secures a harvest of delight.

There is nothing in this Psalm by which we can decide its date, further than this, - that it is a song alter a great deliverance from oppression. "Turning captivity" by no means requires an actual removal into banishment to fill out the idea; rescue from any dire affliction or crushing tyranny would be fitly described as "captivity turned." Indeed, the passage is not applicable to captives in Babylon, for it is Zion itself which is in captivity, and not a part of her citizens: the holy city was in sorrow and distress; though it could nut be removed, the prosperity could be diminished. Some dark cloud lowered over the beloved capital, and its citizens prayed "Turn again our captivity, O Lord."

This Psalm is in its right place and most fitting it follows its predecessor, for as in Psalm 125:1-5 we read that the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous, we here see it removed from them to their great joy. The word "turn" would seem to be the key-note of the song; it is a Psalm of conversion - conversion from captivity; and it mall well be used to set forth the rapture of a pardoned soul when the anger of the Lord is turned away from it. We will call it, "Leading captivity captive."

The Psalm divides itself into a narrative (Psalm 126:1, 19 126:2), a song (Psalm 126:3), a prayer (Psalm 126:4), and a promise (Psalm 126:5-6).

Hints to Preachers

Psalm 126:1. -

I. Sunny memories of what the Lord did, "he turned again the captivity," etc.

II. Singular impressions, - we could not believe it to be true.

III. Special discoveries - it was true, abiding, etc.

Psalm 126:1. - A comparison and a contrast.

I. The saved like them that dream.

1. In the strangeness of their experience.

2. In the ecstasy of their joy.

II. The saved unlike them that dream.

1. In the reality of their experience. Dreams are unsubstantial things, but "the Lord turned" - an actual fact.

2. In their freedom from disappointment. No awakening to find it "but a dream": see Isaiah 29:8.

3. In the endurance of their joy. The joy of dreams is soon forgotten, but this is "everlasting joy." - W. H. J. P.

Psalm 126:2. - Saintly laughter. What creates it, and how it is justified.

Psalm 126:2. - Recipe for holy laughter. -

I. Lie in prison a few weeks.

II. Hear the Lord turning the key.

III. Follow him into the high-road.

IV. Your sky will burst with sunshine, and your heart with song and laughter.

V. If this recipe is thought too expensive, try keeping in the high-road. - W. B. H.

Psalm 126:2, Psalm 126:3. -

I. Reports of God's doings.

II. Experience of God's doings.

Psalm 126:2, Psalm 126:3. -

I. The Lord does great things for his people.

II. These great things command the attention of the world.

III. They inspire the joyful devotion of The saints. - H. J. P.

Psalm 126:3. - "The Lord hath done great things for us." In this acknowledgment and confession there are three noteworthy points of thankfulness.

I. That they were "great things" which were done.

II. Who it was who did them, "the Lord."

III. That they are done, not against us, but "for us." - Alexander Henderson, 1583-1646.

Psalm 126:4. - Believers, rejoicing in their own deliverance, solicitous for a flood of prosperity to overflow the church. See the connection, Psalm 126:1-3. Remark,

I. The doubting and despondent are too concerned about themselves, and too busy seeking comfort, to have either solicitude or energy to spare for the church's welfare; but the joyful heart is free to be earnest for the church's good.

II. Joyful believers, other things being equal, know more of the constraining power of Christ's love, which makes them anxious for his glory and the success of his cause.

III. The joyful can appreciate more fully the contrast of their condition to that of the undelivered, and for their sake cannot fail to be anxious for the church through whose ministry their deliverance comes.

IV. The joyful are, in general, the most believing and the most hopeful; their expectation of success leads them to prayer, and impels them to effort. - J. F.

Psalm 126:4. -

I. The dried-up Christian.

II. His unhappy condition.

III. His one hope.

IV. Result when realized.

Psalm 126:5. - The Christian Husbandman.

I. Illustrate the metaphor. The husbandman has a great variety of work before him; every season and every day brings its proper business. So the Christian has duties in the closet, in the family, in the church, in the world, etc., etc.

II. Whence it is that many Christians sow in tears.

1. It may be owing to the badness of the soil.

2. The inclemency of the season.

3. The malice and opposition of enemies.

4. Past disappointments.

III. What connection there is between sowing in tears and reaping in joy.

1. A joyful harvest, by God's blessing, is the natural consequence of a dripping seed-time.

2. God, who cannot lie, hath promised it.

IV. When this joyful harvest may be expected. It must not be expected in our wintry world, for there is not sun enough to ripen it. Heaven is the Christian's summer. When you come to reap the fruits of your present trials, you will bless God who made you sow in tears. Improvement.

1. How greatly are they to blame who in this busy time stand all the day idle!

2. How greatly have Christians the advantage of the rest of the world!

3. Let the hope and prospect of this joyful harvest support us under all the glooms and distresses of this vale of tears. - Outline of a Sermon by Samuel Lavington, 1726-1807.

Psalm 126:5. - Two pictures. The connecting "shall."

Psalm 126:5. -

I. There must be sowing before reaping.

II. What men sow they will reap. If they sow precious seed, they will reap precious seed.

III. In proportion as they sow they will reap. "He that soweth sparingly," etc.

IV. The sowing may be with sorrow, but the reaping will be with joy.

V. In proportion to the sorrow of sowing will be the joy of reaping. - G. R.

Psalm 126:6. - In the two parts of this verse we may behold a threefold antithesis or opposition; in the progress,

I. A sojourning: "He that now goeth on his way."

II. A sorrowing: "weeping."

III. A sowing: "and beareth forth good seed."

In the regress there are three opposites unto these.

IV. Returning: "He shall doubtless come again."

V. A Rejoicing: "with joy."

VI. A Reaping: "and bring his sheaves with him." - John Hume.

Psalm 126:6. - "Doubtless." Or the reasons why our labour cannot be in vain in the Lord.

Psalm 126:6. - "Bringing his sheaves with him." The faithful sower's return to his Lord. Successful, knowing it, personally honoured, abundantly recompensed.

Psalm 126:6. - See "Spurgeon's Sermon," No. 867: "Tearful Sowing and Joyful Heaping."

Psalm 126:6. -

I. The sorrowful sower.

1. His activity - "he goeth forth."

2. His humility - "and weepeth"

3. His fidelity - "bearing precious seed."

II. The joyful reaper.

1. His certain harvest-time - "shall doubtless come again."

2. His abundant joy - "with rejoicing."

3. His rich rewards - "bringing his sheaves with him." - W. H. J. P.

Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings

Title

Augustine interprets the title, "A Song of Degrees, i.e. a Song of drawing upwards," of the drawing (going) up to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is right, inasmuch as the deliverance from the captivity of sin and death should in an increased measure excite those feelings of gratitude which Israel must have felt on being delivered from their corporeal captivity; in this respect again is the history of the outward theocracy a type of the history of the church. - Augustus F. Tholuck, 1856.

Whole Psalm

In its Christian aspect the Psalm represents the seventh of the "degrees" in our ascent to the Jerusalem that is above. The Christian's exultation at his deliverance from the spiritual captivity of sin. - H. T. Armfield.

Whole Psalm

In mine opinion they go near to the sense and true meaning of the Psalm who do refer it to that great and general captivity of mankind under sin, death and the devil, and to the redemption purchased by the death and blood-shedding of Christ, and published in the Gospel. For this kind of speech which the Prophet useth here is of greater importance than that it may be applied only to Jewish particular captivities. For what great matter was it for these people of the Jews, being, as it were, a little handful, to be delivered out of temporal captivity, in comparison of the exceeding and incomparable deliverance whereby mankind was set at liberty from the power of their enemies, not temporal but eternal, even from death, Satan and hell itself? Wherefore we take this Psalm to be a prophecy of the redemption that should come by Jesus Christ, and the publishing of the gospel, whereby the kingdom of Christ is advanced, and death and the devil with all the powers of darkness are vanquished. - Thomas Stint, in An Exposition on Psalm 124-126, 1621.

Whole Psalm

I believe this Psalm is yet once more to be sung in still more joyous strain; once more will the glad tidings of Israel's restoration break upon her scattered tribes, like the unreal shadow of a dream; once more will the inhabitants of the various lands from among whom they come forth exclaim in adoring wonder, "The Lord hath done great things for them," when they see Israelite after Israelite and Jew after Jew, as on that wondrous night of Egypt, with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand, hasting to obey the summons that recalls them to their own loved land Barton Bouchier (1794-1865), in "Manna in the Heart."

Whole Psalm

When, her sons from bonds redeeming,

God to Zion led the way,

We were like to people dreaming

Thoughts of bliss too bright to stay.

Fill'd with laughter, stood we gazing,

Loud our tongues in rapture sang;

Quickly with the news amazing

All the startled nations rang.

"See Jehovah's works of glory!

Mark what love for them he had!

1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2 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.

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

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

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126:1

"When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream" Being in trouble the gracious pilgrims remember: for their comfort times of national woe which were succeeded by remarkable deliverances. Then sorrow was gone like a dream, and the joy which followed was so great that it seemed too good to be true, and they feared that it must be the vision of an idle brain. So sudden and so overwhelming was their joy that they felt like men out of themselves, ecstatic, or in a trance. The captivity had been great, and great was the deliverance; for the great God himself had wrought it: it seemed too good to be actually true: each man said to himself, -

"Is this a dream? O if it be a dream,

Let me sleep on, and do not wake me yet."

It was not the freedom of an individual which the Lord in mercy had wrought, but of all Zion, of the whole nation; and this was reason enough for overflowing gladness. We need not instance the histories which illustrate this verse in connection with literal Israel; but it is well to remember how often it has been true to ourselves. Let us look to the prison-houses from which we have been set free. Ah, me, what captives we have been! At our first conversion what a turning again of captivity we experienced. Never shall that hour be forgotten. Joy! Joy! Joy! Since then, from multiplied troubles, from depression of spirit, from miserable backsliding, from grievous doubt, we have been emancipated, and we are not able to describe the bliss which followed each emancipation.

"When God reveal'd his gracious name

And changed our mournful state,

Our rapture seem'd a pleasing dream.

continued...

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.
The Treasury of David, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon [1869-85].
Text Courtesy of Internet Sacred Texts Archive.

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