Psalm of Ascents – Psalm 126
Jun 22 in Steps of Ascent
It is believed that this Psalm was written during the time of the return of the exiles from Babylon. It seemed like an impossible dream, they were filled with unspeakable joy and their hearts overflowed with worship and thanksgiving. God alone had done it! as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah (Is. 44:28 – 45:1). We think back to the Israelites leaving Egypt and God’s great deliverance making a way through the sea with Moses (also prophesied to Abram in Genesis 15:13). We see over and over again God’s deliverance on behalf of His people. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, He does not change! In 1948 the nation of Israel was reborn and His people since then are returning there from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12). There is a time and a season for everything (Eccl 3), a time to sow the seed, His Word applied to our every need and circumstance, (both in prayer and deed ) and a time to reap the harvest (His Word will never come back empty); a season for winter (of barrenness and growth) and a season for Summer (of fruitfulness for hard work) a time for watering with tears (the seed must die) that it may birth a new beginning, His! Abundant Joy!. It shall be said in that day: “Lo, this is our God, for whom we waited, that He might save us; This is the Lord, for whom we waited, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” Is 25:9
Expectation! For He will turn the desert into rivers that turn the driest, most barren land into a fertile ground abounding with life… “the wilderness and the parched land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom… for in the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert and the parched land shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water…” Isaiah 35 “…yet again there shall be heard in this place… the voice of joy and the voice of gladness … the voice of them that say: Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, His mercy endures forever.” Jeremiah 33.
A picture of this can be seen in the following video of the river flowing into the Negev, a real source of hope for the future “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?” (Numbers 23:19)
“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36.