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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms CXXVI].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM CXXVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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It was with reference to some great and surprising deliverance of the
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people of God out of bondage and distress that this psalm was penned,
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most likely their return out of Babylon in Ezra's time. Though Babylon
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be not mentioned here (as it is,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:1-9">Ps. cxxxvii.</A>)
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yet their captivity there was the most remarkable captivity both in
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itself and as their return out of it was typical of our redemption by
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Christ. Probably this psalm was penned by Ezra, or some of the prophets
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that came up with the first. We read of singers of the children of
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Asaph, that famous psalmist, who returned then,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+2:41">Ezra ii. 41</A>.
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It being a song of ascents, in which the same things are twice repeated
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with advancement
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:2,3,4,5">ver. 2, 3,
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and ver. 4, 5</A>),
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it is put here among the rest of the psalms that bear that title.
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I. Those that had returned out of captivity are here called upon to be
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thankful,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. Those that were yet remaining in captivity are here prayed for
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:4">ver. 4</A>)
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and encouraged,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
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It will be easy, in singing this psalm, to apply it either to any
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particular deliverance wrought for the church or our own land or to the
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great work of our salvation by Christ.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps126_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps126_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps126_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Deliverance from Captivity.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<CENTER>
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<P>A song of degrees.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 When the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> turned again the
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captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
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2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with
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singing: then said they among the heathen, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath done
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great things for them.
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3 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath done great things for us; <I>whereof</I> we are
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glad.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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While the people of Israel were captives in Babylon their harps were
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hung upon the willow-trees, for then God called to weeping and
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mourning, then he mourned unto them and they lamented; but now that
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their captivity is turned they resume their harps; Providence pipes to
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them, and they dance. Thus must we accommodate ourselves to all the
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dispensations of Providence and be suitably affected with them. And the
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harps are never more melodiously tunable than after such a melancholy
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disuse. The long want of mercies greatly sweetens their return. Here
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is,
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1. The deliverance God has wrought for them: He <I>turned again the
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captivity of Zion.</I> It is possible that Zion may be in captivity for
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the punishment of her degeneracy, but her captivity shall be turned
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again when the end is answered and the work designed by it is effected.
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Cyrus, for reasons of state, proclaimed liberty to God's captives, and
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yet it was <I>the Lord's doing,</I> according to his word many years
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before. God sent them into captivity, not as dross is put into the fire
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to be consumed, but as gold to be refined. Observe, The release of
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Israel is called <I>the turning again of the captivity of Zion,</I> the
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holy hill, where God's tabernacle and dwelling-place were; for the
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restoring of their sacred interests, and the reviving of the public
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exercise of their religion, were the most valuable advantages of their
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return out of captivity.
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2. The pleasing surprise that this was to them. They were amazed at it;
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it came so suddenly that at first they were in confusion, not knowing
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what to make of it, nor what it was tending to: "We thought ourselves
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<I>like men that dream;</I> we thought it too good news to be true, and
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began to question whether we were well awake or no, and whether it was
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not still" (as sometimes it had been to the prophets) "only a
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representation of it in vision," as St. Peter for a while thought his
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deliverance was,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+12:9">Acts xii. 9</A>.
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Sometimes the people of God are thus prevented with the blessings of
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his goodness before they are aware. <I>We were like those that are
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recovered to health</I> (so Dr. Hammond reads it); "such a comfortable
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happy change it was to us, as life from the dead or sudden ease from
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exquisite pain; we thought ourselves in a new world." And the surprise
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of it put them into such an ecstasy and transport of joy that they
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could scarcely contain themselves within the bounds of decency in the
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expressions of it: <I>Our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue
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with singing.</I> Thus they gave vent to their joy, gave glory to their
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God, and gave notice to all about them what wonders God had wrought for
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them. Those that were laughed at now laugh and a <I>new song is put
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into their mouths.</I> It was a laughter of joy in God, not scorn of
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their enemies.
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3. The notice which their neighbours took of it: <I>They said among the
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heathen,</I> Jehovah, the God of Israel, <I>has done great things</I>
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for that people, such as our gods cannot do for us. The heathen had
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observed their calamity and had triumphed in it,
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<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>.
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Now they could not but observe their deliverance and admire that. It
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put a reputation upon those that had been scorned and despised, and
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made them look considerable; besides, it turned greatly to the honour
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of God, and extorted from those that set up other gods in competition
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with him an acknowledgment of his wisdom, power, and providence.
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4. The acknowledgments which they themselves made of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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The heathen were but spectators, and spoke of it only as matter of
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news; they had no part nor lot in the matter; but the people of God
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spoke of it as sharers in it,
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(1.) With application: "He has <I>done great things for us,</I> things
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that we are interested in and have advantage by." Thus it is
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comfortable speaking of the redemption Christ has wrought out as
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wrought out for us. <I>Who loved me, and gave himself for me.</I>
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(2.) With affection: "<I>Whereof we are glad.</I> The heathen are
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amazed at it, and some of them angry, but we are glad." While Israel
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went a whoring from their God joy was forbidden them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+9:1">Hos. ix. 1</A>);
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but now that the iniquity of Jacob was purged by the captivity, and
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their sin taken away, now God makes them to rejoice. It is the
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repenting reforming people that are, and shall be, the rejoicing
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people. Observe here,
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[1.] God's appearances for his people are to be looked upon as great
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things.
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[2.] God is to be eyed as the author of all the great things done for
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the church.
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[3.] It is good to observe how the church's deliverances are for us,
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that we may rejoice in them.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps126_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps126_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps126_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hope for the Sorrowful.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>4 Turn again our captivity, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, as the streams in the
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south.
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5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
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6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall
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doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves <I>with
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him.</I>
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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These verses look forward to the mercies that were yet wanted. Those
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that had come out of captivity were still in distress, even in their
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own land
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+1:3">Neh. i. 3</A>),
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and many yet remained in Babylon; and therefore they rejoiced with
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trembling, and bore upon their hearts the grievances that were yet to
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be redressed. We have here,
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1. A prayer for the perfecting of their deliverance
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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"<I>Turn again our captivity.</I> Let those that have returned to their
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own land be eased of the burdens which they are yet groaning under. Let
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those that remain in Babylon have their hearts stirred up, as ours
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were, to take the benefit of the liberty granted." The beginnings of
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mercy are encouragements to us to pray for the completing of it. And
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while we are here in this world there will still be matter for prayer,
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even when we are most furnished with matter for praise. And, when we
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are free and in prosperity ourselves, we must not be unmindful of our
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brethren that are in trouble and under restraint. The bringing of those
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that were yet in captivity to join with their brethren that had
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returned would be as welcome to both sides as streams of water in those
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countries, which, lying far south, were parched and dry. As cold water
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to a thirsty soul, so would this good news be from that far country,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:25">Prov. xxv. 25</A>.
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2. A promise for their encouragement to wait for it, assuring them
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that, though they had now a sorrowful time, yet it would end well. But
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the promise is expressed generally, that all the saints may comfort
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themselves with this confidence, that their seedness of tears will
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certainly end in a harvest of joy at last,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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(1.) Suffering saints have a seedness of tears. They are in tears
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often; they share in the calamities of human life, and commonly have a
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greater share in them than others. But they <I>sow in tears;</I> they
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do the duty of an afflicted state and so answer the intentions of the
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providences they are under. Weeping must not hinder sowing; when we
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suffer ill we must be doing well. Nay, as the ground is by the rain
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prepared for the seed, and the husbandman sometimes chooses to sow in
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the wet, so we must improve times of affliction, as disposing us to
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repentance, and prayer, and humiliation. Nay, there are tears which are
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themselves the seed that we must sow, tears of sorrow for sin, our own
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and others, tears of sympathy with the afflicted church, and the tears
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of tenderness in prayer and under the word. These are precious seed,
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such as the husbandman sows when corn is dear and he has but little for
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his family, and therefore weeps to part with it, yet buries it under
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ground, in expectation of receiving it again with advantage. Thus does
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a good man sow in tears.
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(2.) They shall have a harvest of joy. The troubles of the saints will
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not last always, but, when they have done their work, shall have a
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happy period. The captives in Babylon were long sowing in tears, but at
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length they were brought forth with joy, and then they reaped the
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benefit of their patient suffering, and brought their sheaves with them
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to their own land, in their experiences of the goodness of God to them.
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Job, and Joseph, and David, and many others, had harvests of joy after
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a sorrowful seedness. Those that sow in the tears of godly sorrow shall
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reap in the joy of a sealed pardon and a settled peace. Those that
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<I>sow to the spirit,</I> in this vale of tears, <I>shall of the spirit
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reap life everlasting,</I> and that will be a joyful harvest indeed.
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<I>Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be</I> for ever
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<I>comforted.</I></P>
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<!-- (End Body) -->
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC19125.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC19127.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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</TABLE>
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
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