Restoration of Zion Psalm 126:1-6

[Pages:19] Commentary by Clyde M. Miller

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Questions by John C. Sewell

Restoration of Zion Psalm 126:1-6

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 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller

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Questions by John C. Sewell

Restoration of Zion

Commentary

of

Clyde M. Miller

Text:

Psalm 126:1-6,

1. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. 2. 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." 3. The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. 5. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. NIV

Introduction:

I. For the meaning of the title, see the notes on Psalm 120.

II. This community prayer is strikingly similar to the longer Psalm 85.

A. Psalm 85:1-13, You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You for-

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 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller

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Questions by John C. Sewell

gave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations: Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing lover, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saintsbut let them not return to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. NIV

B. Psalm 126:1-3 reflect upon a past deliverance, probably the return from Babylonian captivity.

1. Psalm 126:1-3, 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. NIV

C. In verses 4-6, the psalmist pleads for a further restoration from present problems, probably the hardships en-

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Questions by John C. Sewell

countered in the reconstruction era following the return from captivity, as reflected in Ezra and Nehemiah.

1. Psalm 126:4-6, Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. NIV

III. By means of temporal clauses, ...

A. Verses 1-2 describe to a time of divine deliverance (verse 1) and the resultant effects on Israel (verse 2ab) and the nations (verse 2cd).

1. Psalm 126:1-2, 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." NIV

B. The psalmist concludes this stanza with a reaffirmation of Israel's gratitude for God's saving acts (verse 3).

1. Psalm 126:3, The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. NIV

C. In beautiful imagery, the psalmist has the nation pray for the refreshing waters of divine blessing (verse 4), and then that their tears may be turned into rejoicing (verse 5).

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor

 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller

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Questions by John C. Sewell

1. Psalm 126:4-5, Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

D. He concludes the second stanza with an affirmation of trust that also includes a definite causal relationship between sowing and reaping (verse 6).

1. Psalm 126:6, He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. NIV

Commentary:

"The Lord Has Done Great Things"

Psalm 126:1-3, 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. NIV

I. The purpose of this introductory stanza is properly understood by comparing it with the concluding stanza.

A. Past deliverance gives hope for present salvation.

Psalm 126:1, When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. NIV

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 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller

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Questions by John C. Sewell

I. "Brought back the captives to Zion" is sometimes rendered metaphorically, "restored the fortunes of" (RSV, NRSV).

A. This clause, with slight variations, is frequently used by the psalmists in Psalm 14:7, 53:6; 85:1; and 126:1,4 and the prophets in Jeremiah 29:14; 30:3,18; 31:23; 32:44; 33:7,11,26; 48:47; 49:6,39; Ezekiel 16:53; 29:14; 39:25; Hosea 6:11; Joel 3:1; Amos 9:14; Zephaniah 2:7 and 3:20.

1. Psalm 14:7, Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! NIV

2. Psalm 53:6, Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! NIV

3. Psalm 85:1, You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. NIV

4. Psalm 126:1 and 4, When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. NIV

5. Jeremiah 29:14, "I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." NIV

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 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller

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Questions by John C. Sewell

6. Jeremiah 30:3 and 18, "The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess, says the LORD." This is what the LORD says: "I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place." NIV

7. Jeremiah 31:23, This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: `The LORD bless you, O righteous dwelling, O sacred mountain.' NIV

8. Jeremiah 32:44, Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD." NIV

9. Jeremiah 33:7, 11 and 26, I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. The sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the lord, saying, "Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love

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 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller

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Questions by John C. Sewell

endures forever." "For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before," says the LORD. "Then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them." NIV

10. Jeremiah 48:47, "Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come." declares the LORD. NIV

11. Jeremiah 49:6 and 39, "Yet afterward, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites," declares the LORD. "Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come," declares the LORD. NIV

12. Ezekiel 16:53, "However, I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them, so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort." NIV

13. Ezekiel 29:14, I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Pathros, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom. NIV

14. Ezekiel 39:25, "Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on

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