Bible Commentaries

Psalms 126:1. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

We could hardly believe it; we began to talk incoherently, as men do in their sleep. We were so carried away with joyful rapture that we did not know where we were: “we were like them that dream.”

Psalms 126:2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, —

We became Issacs, for he was the child of laughter. We laughed as Abraham did, for very joy of faith. Sometimes, laughter may become the holiest possible expression. It may be one of the meanest utterances of our nature, but it may also be one of the loftiest. These people not only laughed, but their mouth was filled with laughter; they could not laugh loudly enough, there was no expression of articulate speech that sufficed them at all: “Then was our mouth filled with laughter,” —

Psalms 126:2. And our tongue with singing:

When they did find their tongue, they could not speak, they must sing. They could not have anything so slow as a mere declaration, they must have a Psalm: “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.”

Psalms 126:2. Then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

The heathen could not help seeing that it was the Lord who had delivered Israel. No other people except the Jews ever came back from captivity. The Babylonish tyrant never restored any others to their land, but he did restore these people; and the very heathen said, “It is their God, Jehovah, that hath done it.” And what did God’s own people say?

Psalms 126:3. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

See the difference between the outsider and the insider. The outsider says, “The Lord hath done great things for them.” Ah! but they who belong to God say, “The Lord hath done great things for us.” Oh, the privilege of being able to say “for us!” Dear hears, can you join with all the saints, and say, “The Lord hath done great things for us”? This is what happened to God’s people before, but now they have fallen into another trouble, so hear how they pray.

Psalms 126:4. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

“Thou didst it once; do it again. Thou madest us to live; make us to live again. We sang then, O Lord; enable us to sing again, ‘Turn again our captivity.’ As the dry river-beds are suddenly made to be filled with water at the melting of the snow, so come, and fill our hearts, ‘as the streams in the south.’”

Psalms 126:5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Take that for certain; lay it down as a Scripture proverb. When God sends us a wet time, and we have to sow in the moist foggy atmosphere, never mind; there are brighter days yet to come. We shall reap amid the sunbeams, and carry home our sheaves with joy.

Psalms 126:6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

“He shall doubtless come again with rejoicing.” Now, ye disconsolate workers, ye who have only a handful of seed, ye shall come back with an armful of sheaves. You shall come back rejoicing though you go forth now sorrowing, for the Lord has said it; wherefore be of good courage.

This exposition consisted of readings from PSALMS 126. and 127.