There are some passages of scripture that we’ve travelled with longer and that have impacted our lives more than others (What scriptures are especially precious to you?). Psalm 126 is one of those passages in my life.
I recall reading it in my early 20s and being stuck by its poetic words. I asked a friend to preach at the small church I was part of back then and he chose this psalm as his focus. It was lovely to hear a reflection on its content. What was it about Psalm 126 that made such an impression upon me?
In a word, JOY.
I guess many of us have faced two objections to the Christian faith in conversations with friends outside the church. We are either hypocrites or we are dour! I believe that Psalm 126 emphasises that a believer has shed tears that the world at large knows nothing about (verses 4-6) but has experienced joy it has no real knowledge of (verses 1-3).
Joy is a hallmark of Christian discipleship.
C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, “Letters to Malcolm,” that “joy is the serious business of heaven.” Lewis’s understanding of Christian joy tells me that it is not a fleeting or superficial emotion but a deep and profound characteristic of life in the kingdom of God. Joy is not about temporary happiness, which often depends on external circumstances, but something lasting that flows out of a relationship with God.
On the May Bank Holiday Monday this year (26th) I spent a chunk of the day walking in the Glencoe region. I also enjoyed stopping off at one of my favourite coffee shops, “Craft and Things,” at Ballachulish.
I must have sat there for well over an hour with Psalm 126 open before me and notebook by my side. The following is what I noted down…
The psalmist finds joy when he looks in two directions…
⬅️ In verses 1-3 he looks back to what the Lord has done.
The background to this psalm is likely to be the Lord’s judgement in consigning his people to exile in Babylon because of their wilful disobedience. And then in an act of infinite grace and mercy he moves the heart of a pagan king to open up the way to return to the land of promise. The verses express the thoughts and feelings of those who returned to Jerusalem.
“We were like those who dreamed.” I can imagine God’s people saying, “Is this really happening…This far exceeds our greatest expectations.”
Nations looked on and acknowledged the goodness of God (verse 2).
God’s people looked up and expressed their unbridled joy at all that he had done for them. “…we are filled with joy” (verse 3).
It is helpful for us today to build into our quiet times moments when we reflect on the Lord’s gift of grace and his wise leading in our lives. He has also given us the Lord’s Supper whereby we are regularly reminded of the depth of his love for us - “vast as the ocean.” These sacred occasions have the potential to reawaken joy and fill our cup to overflowing (Psalm 23:5).
➡️ In verses 4-6 he looks forward to what the Lord will do.
There is a tremendous shift in the experience of God’s people in the present moment. Clear evidence of the Lord moving has been replaced by a dry and barren season.
Tears have replaced joy.
However, hope is stirring in the hearts of the redeemed. The Lord can and will restore their fortunes. “Songs of joy” will once again resound in the hearts of his people (verses 5 & 6). What is required is that they submit to the Lord with humble and contrite hearts.
As we pause on our journey today we can look back to all the way the Lord has led us. And we can look forward knowing that he is with us and will guide our steps. That knowledge is the source of “solid joy” to quote John Newton’s famous hymn (‘Glorious things of thee are spoken’).
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
(Romans 15:13)
'the journey' playlist...
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&pi=iHT32HMRSleMD
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