Psalm 126
A Harvest of Joy
A Song of Ascents.
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts 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 rejoiced.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5 May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
Meditation
During this third week in Advent, we rejoice that our waiting is showing signs of coming to an end. Our Joy is the culmination of the Hope we have clung to in the coming of the Christ child and the Peace that God’s plan is on course. Psalm 126 offers a lesson in expressing our overwhelming Joy. The Hebrew people are witnessing the unfolding of their return to Judah. Their Hope of returning to their homeland is like an impossible dream and yet they learned to be at Peace with the circumstances in Babylon. And now, by decree of the Persian Emperor, they can return home! Great Joy is springing up (like rivers in the desert) with laughter and rejoicing—what seemed impossible is happening. After a long, crazy, and disorienting year, we too can claim the Hope that one day we will return home. In the meantime, we claim the Peace “which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) in the knowledge that God keeps God’s promises. What Joy we have in knowing that “the Lord has done great things for us” (vs. 3) by entering the world in Bethlehem to be “Emmanuel—God is with us” (see Matthew 1:23).
Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!