Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

unrest, and terror; peace is freedom and harmony and unity and security and blessedness.’ 2 All who- have accepted Christ and live for him have become a part of the “Israel of God” and inherit his peace: “May God’s mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God. [the Israel of God.] (Gal. 6:16)

1 Keil & Delitzsch 2 Keil & Delitzsch

PSALM 126: IT WAS LIKE A DREAM! Sudden and Sustained Deliverance

The first half of this marvelous psalm celebrates the sudden deliverance of Zion from an unnamed oppressor while the second half describes the process of sustaining the deliverance. There are several possibilities of the history of the song, but the principle remains the same; we cooperate with the mirac- ulous works of God by sowing and reaping good things into life. The dream given by God is so incred- ible when it is fulfilled that the people can scarcely believe that it is actually happening. The Psalm is connected to the previous (125) as they both refer to Zion; the mountain of worship in Jerusalem that became another name used for the city. It is outlined in two sections:

I SANG FOR JOY - 1-3 Sudden Deliverance (Singing and Rejoicing) II SHOUT FOR JOY - 4-6 Sustained Deliverance (Sowing and Reaping)

INTRODUCTION:

“A Song for the Ascent to Jerusalem”

(See ‘Introduction to the Songs of Ascent’) There were two instances in the history of Israel that best fit the setting of this psalm. In both instances there was a need to ‘sow and reap’ after a supernatural deliverance from the domination of the enemy: 1.) The Deliverance from Sennacherib of Assyria- The deliverance of Jerusalem (Zion) from the massive Assyrian siege was sudden and stunning: “That night the angel of the Lord went out to the As- syrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops.” (2 Kgs. 19:35) Isaiah the prophet prophesied about the Israelites sowing and reaping after the land had been destroyed by the 2 year siege: “But in the third year your will plant crops and harvest them; you will tend vineyards and eat their fruit. And you who are left in Judah, who have escaped the ravages of the siege, will take root again in your own soil and you will flourish and multiply.” (2 Kgs. 19:29, 30) 2.) The Return from the Exile to Babylon- In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, King of Persia he made a sudden decree that the Jews should return and rebuild their temple and country after 70 years of exile in Babylon: “In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy by stirring the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation into writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: …He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem in the land Judah.” (2 Chron. 36:22, 23) They returned to the land of Israel that had been utterly destroyed: “This entire land will become a desolate wasteland.” (Jer. 25:11) and began to sow their seed with tears. This second one is the most likely sce- nario. ‘‘It is the exiles at home again upon the soil of their fatherland who here cast back a glance into the happy time when their destiny suddenly took another turn.’ 1

I

SANG FOR JOY - 1-3 Sudden Deliverance (Singing and Rejoicing)

“When the Lord restored his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!” (1)

The return from Babylon was so astounding to the Jews they could hardly grasp the reality of it all; they were ‘as those not really passing through such circumstances, but only dreaming.’ 2 The prophets had foretold this event and yet it was almost incomprehensible: “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land.” (Jer. 29:14) 341