S--Psalm 126
O-"-When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion" is sometimes translated as "when the Lord restored the captives to Zion". It's saying the same thing, it's just giving a fuller translation. Either way...the Lord has restored and it was like a dream to the Israelites. They were full of joy and celebration. All other nations looked at their wonderful story of deliverance, and saw that it was God who had accomplished it all. Israel sang along in agreement! God restored them, but they are praying for continual restoration, that they would never forget what He has done for them. They want to never lose the joy that deliverance brought to the children of God. They are reminding themselves that sad times may come again, but joy always comes when you trust in God. Sorrows will reap a harvest of joy if you bring along seeds to plant on the way.
A--I learned this as a song when I was a teenager (from the KJV). So of course it's stuck in my mind now. 😆 I love verses 2 and 3 "They have said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.'" And they respond with "'The Lord HAS done great things for us; we are glad.'" (Emphasis mine) The psalmist leads the congregation to pray for restoration daily. Daily we find ourselves in some kind of captivity. To our thoughts, to the opinions of others, to the daily grind and the "bigger noise". We can't avoid times of weeping, it's part of life. But we've been entrusted with a whole bag of seeds to sow! So we need to be intentional, even during times of sadness, to do the things God has for us to do. Then with great joy, we will be able to see the harvest, the greatness of God at work in the lives of His children. When you see the harvest, you'll understand the reason for the tears if you keep your focus on Christ Jesus.
K--I pray to have eyes and a heart that sees the ending joy that can come from every heart ache that is placed in Your hands.
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