Our psalm for today is one of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134) which are called the Songs of Ascent, or Songs of Degrees in many versions of the Bible. It is believed by many scholars they were given this title because they were often sung by pilgrim worshippers as they ascended the road into Jerusalem for major holy day festivals. Each of these psalms are short, all but one being under 10 verses.
The first half of this psalm is a song of joy and praise to the Lord God for bringing the people of Israel back again out from captivity. Many years earlier, the Babylonian Empire had conquered their land and taken the people into captivity. God had allowed this to happen to the people of Israel because of their sins, particularly in turning away from Him and worshipping false gods. Now, many years later, the people were allowed to return to their homeland, and their response was clearly one of joy and rejoicing. As our psalm records, it was like a dream come true (vs. 1)! They were laughing from sheer overwhelming happiness, and singing out the praises of God to whoever would listen (vs. 2-3).
It is probably safe to say that most of us have never been in forced servitude to another, but there are many other ways we can be held captive. We can be under the bondage of addictions or bad habits. We can be held captive from fears, anxiety, worry, or depression. Sin is a terrible taskmaster, holding us under its power like a slave in chains. When we put our faith in the Lord Jesus, and trust His redeeming power, He can set us free from all that holds us in captivity, just as surely as He brought forth the children of Israel from their enforced captivity to the Babylonians. On that day we can sing and rejoice, proclaiming that “The Lord has done great things for us.” (vs. 3).
The deeper our troubles, the more we should thank the Lord for bringing us through them. The people of Israel had seen their homes and land destroyed, countless numbers of their family and friends killed, and then were forcefully removed to a foreign country hundreds of miles away. That was deep trouble, but God brought them through, and now their dreams were realized. A remnant was restored to their homeland. Likewise the Lord God can bring us through whatever deep and terrible trouble we are facing. Don’t keep our eyes on the dark side. Look instead at how God has, or will, bring us through the trouble. The people in our psalm weren’t singing a sad and mournful song of what had been, as terrible and traumatic as that was for them. Instead, they were singing about the great and wonderful things He had done for them, and would continue to do. There would still be difficult times ahead for them as they would rebuild their homes and cities, and the many enemies they would face, but nonetheless, their song was a joyful one of praise to God.
The second part of the psalm, verses 4 and 5, tell of sowing and reaping. The psalmist tells of one sowing seed in sorrow, with tears and weeping, but how later he will bring in a harvest with rejoicing. I am reminded of the parable of the sower that Jesus told in Matthew 13:1-23. Jesus explained that the seed that the sower was casting out onto the ground was the Word of God. Today we are to be spreading the Word of God to the lost, as well. Sometimes we may be weeping, either inwardly, or sometimes outwardly, as we think of our lost loved ones, friends, or neighbors. Knowing that if they do not accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior they will spend eternity lost and separated from God can and should cause us sadness. However, through our faithfulness in sowing the seed of God’s Word and prayer, there are times when we see a lost one call upon Jesus and come into the fold. How wonderful it is to rejoice when we bring in those “sheaves” to the Lord Jesus!
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