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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM CXXVI.</FONT>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
It was with reference to some great and surprising deliverance of the
people of God out of bondage and distress that this psalm was penned,
most likely their return out of Babylon in Ezra's time. Though Babylon
be not mentioned here (as it is,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:1-9">Ps. cxxxvii.</A>)
yet their captivity there was the most remarkable captivity both in
itself and as their return out of it was typical of our redemption by
Christ. Probably this psalm was penned by Ezra, or some of the prophets
that came up with the first. We read of singers of the children of
Asaph, that famous psalmist, who returned then,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+2:41">Ezra ii. 41</A>.
It being a song of ascents, in which the same things are twice repeated
with advancement
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:2,3,4,5">ver. 2, 3,
and ver. 4, 5</A>),
it is put here among the rest of the psalms that bear that title.
I. Those that had returned out of captivity are here called upon to be
thankful,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
II. Those that were yet remaining in captivity are here prayed for
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:4">ver. 4</A>)
and encouraged,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
It will be easy, in singing this psalm, to apply it either to any
particular deliverance wrought for the church or our own land or to the
great work of our salvation by Christ.</P>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Deliverance from Captivity.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>A song of degrees.</P>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 When the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> turned again the
captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
&nbsp; 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with
singing: then said they among the heathen, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath done
great things for them.
&nbsp; 3 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath done great things for us; <I>whereof</I> we are
glad.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
While the people of Israel were captives in Babylon their harps were
hung upon the willow-trees, for then God called to weeping and
mourning, then he mourned unto them and they lamented; but now that
their captivity is turned they resume their harps; Providence pipes to
them, and they dance. Thus must we accommodate ourselves to all the
dispensations of Providence and be suitably affected with them. And the
harps are never more melodiously tunable than after such a melancholy
disuse. The long want of mercies greatly sweetens their return. Here
is,
1. The deliverance God has wrought for them: He <I>turned again the
captivity of Zion.</I> It is possible that Zion may be in captivity for
the punishment of her degeneracy, but her captivity shall be turned
again when the end is answered and the work designed by it is effected.
Cyrus, for reasons of state, proclaimed liberty to God's captives, and
yet it was <I>the Lord's doing,</I> according to his word many years
before. God sent them into captivity, not as dross is put into the fire
to be consumed, but as gold to be refined. Observe, The release of
Israel is called <I>the turning again of the captivity of Zion,</I> the
holy hill, where God's tabernacle and dwelling-place were; for the
restoring of their sacred interests, and the reviving of the public
exercise of their religion, were the most valuable advantages of their
return out of captivity.
2. The pleasing surprise that this was to them. They were amazed at it;
it came so suddenly that at first they were in confusion, not knowing
what to make of it, nor what it was tending to: "We thought ourselves
<I>like men that dream;</I> we thought it too good news to be true, and
began to question whether we were well awake or no, and whether it was
not still" (as sometimes it had been to the prophets) "only a
representation of it in vision," as St. Peter for a while thought his
deliverance was,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+12:9">Acts xii. 9</A>.
Sometimes the people of God are thus prevented with the blessings of
his goodness before they are aware. <I>We were like those that are
recovered to health</I> (so Dr. Hammond reads it); "such a comfortable
happy change it was to us, as life from the dead or sudden ease from
exquisite pain; we thought ourselves in a new world." And the surprise
of it put them into such an ecstasy and transport of joy that they
could scarcely contain themselves within the bounds of decency in the
expressions of it: <I>Our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue
with singing.</I> Thus they gave vent to their joy, gave glory to their
God, and gave notice to all about them what wonders God had wrought for
them. Those that were laughed at now laugh and a <I>new song is put
into their mouths.</I> It was a laughter of joy in God, not scorn of
their enemies.
3. The notice which their neighbours took of it: <I>They said among the
heathen,</I> Jehovah, the God of Israel, <I>has done great things</I>
for that people, such as our gods cannot do for us. The heathen had
observed their calamity and had triumphed in it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+22:8,9,Ps+137:7">Jer. xxii. 8, 9; Ps. cxxxvii. 7</A>.
Now they could not but observe their deliverance and admire that. It
put a reputation upon those that had been scorned and despised, and
made them look considerable; besides, it turned greatly to the honour
of God, and extorted from those that set up other gods in competition
with him an acknowledgment of his wisdom, power, and providence.
4. The acknowledgments which they themselves made of it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
The heathen were but spectators, and spoke of it only as matter of
news; they had no part nor lot in the matter; but the people of God
spoke of it as sharers in it,
(1.) With application: "He has <I>done great things for us,</I> things
that we are interested in and have advantage by." Thus it is
comfortable speaking of the redemption Christ has wrought out as
wrought out for us. <I>Who loved me, and gave himself for me.</I>
(2.) With affection: "<I>Whereof we are glad.</I> The heathen are
amazed at it, and some of them angry, but we are glad." While Israel
went a whoring from their God joy was forbidden them
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+9:1">Hos. ix. 1</A>);
but now that the iniquity of Jacob was purged by the captivity, and
their sin taken away, now God makes them to rejoice. It is the
repenting reforming people that are, and shall be, the rejoicing
people. Observe here,
[1.] God's appearances for his people are to be looked upon as great
things.
[2.] God is to be eyed as the author of all the great things done for
the church.
[3.] It is good to observe how the church's deliverances are for us,
that we may rejoice in them.</P>
<A NAME="Ps126_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps126_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps126_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hope for the Sorrowful.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>4 Turn again our captivity, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, as the streams in the
south.
&nbsp; 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
&nbsp; 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves <I>with
him.</I>
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
These verses look forward to the mercies that were yet wanted. Those
that had come out of captivity were still in distress, even in their
own land
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+1:3">Neh. i. 3</A>),
and many yet remained in Babylon; and therefore they rejoiced with
trembling, and bore upon their hearts the grievances that were yet to
be redressed. We have here,
1. A prayer for the perfecting of their deliverance
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
"<I>Turn again our captivity.</I> Let those that have returned to their
own land be eased of the burdens which they are yet groaning under. Let
those that remain in Babylon have their hearts stirred up, as ours
were, to take the benefit of the liberty granted." The beginnings of
mercy are encouragements to us to pray for the completing of it. And
while we are here in this world there will still be matter for prayer,
even when we are most furnished with matter for praise. And, when we
are free and in prosperity ourselves, we must not be unmindful of our
brethren that are in trouble and under restraint. The bringing of those
that were yet in captivity to join with their brethren that had
returned would be as welcome to both sides as streams of water in those
countries, which, lying far south, were parched and dry. As cold water
to a thirsty soul, so would this good news be from that far country,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:25">Prov. xxv. 25</A>.
2. A promise for their encouragement to wait for it, assuring them
that, though they had now a sorrowful time, yet it would end well. But
the promise is expressed generally, that all the saints may comfort
themselves with this confidence, that their seedness of tears will
certainly end in a harvest of joy at last,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
(1.) Suffering saints have a seedness of tears. They are in tears
often; they share in the calamities of human life, and commonly have a
greater share in them than others. But they <I>sow in tears;</I> they
do the duty of an afflicted state and so answer the intentions of the
providences they are under. Weeping must not hinder sowing; when we
suffer ill we must be doing well. Nay, as the ground is by the rain
prepared for the seed, and the husbandman sometimes chooses to sow in
the wet, so we must improve times of affliction, as disposing us to
repentance, and prayer, and humiliation. Nay, there are tears which are
themselves the seed that we must sow, tears of sorrow for sin, our own
and others, tears of sympathy with the afflicted church, and the tears
of tenderness in prayer and under the word. These are precious seed,
such as the husbandman sows when corn is dear and he has but little for
his family, and therefore weeps to part with it, yet buries it under
ground, in expectation of receiving it again with advantage. Thus does
a good man sow in tears.
(2.) They shall have a harvest of joy. The troubles of the saints will
not last always, but, when they have done their work, shall have a
happy period. The captives in Babylon were long sowing in tears, but at
length they were brought forth with joy, and then they reaped the
benefit of their patient suffering, and brought their sheaves with them
to their own land, in their experiences of the goodness of God to them.
Job, and Joseph, and David, and many others, had harvests of joy after
a sorrowful seedness. Those that sow in the tears of godly sorrow shall
reap in the joy of a sealed pardon and a settled peace. Those that
<I>sow to the spirit,</I> in this vale of tears, <I>shall of the spirit
reap life everlasting,</I> and that will be a joyful harvest indeed.
<I>Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be</I> for ever
<I>comforted.</I></P>
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