mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 126.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cxxvii" n="cxxvii" next="Ps.cxxviii" prev="Ps.cxxvi" progress="66.96%" title="Chapter CXXVI">
<h2 id="Ps.cxxvii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cxxvii-p0.2">PSALM CXXVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxxvii-p1">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,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.137.1-Ps.137.9" parsed="|Ps|137|1|137|9" passage="Ps 137:1-9">Ps. cxxxvii.</scripRef>) 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,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.41" parsed="|Ezra|2|41|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:41">Ezra ii. 41</scripRef>. It being a
song of ascents, in which the same things are twice repeated with
advancement (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.2-Ps.126.4 Bible:Ps.126.5" parsed="|Ps|126|2|126|4;|Ps|126|5|0|0" passage="Ps 126:2,3,4,5">ver. 2, 3, and ver.
4, 5</scripRef>), 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, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.1-Ps.126.3" parsed="|Ps|126|1|126|3" passage="Ps 126:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II. Those that were yet remaining
in captivity are here prayed for (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.4" parsed="|Ps|126|4|0|0" passage="Ps 126:4">ver.
4</scripRef>) and encouraged, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.5-Ps.126.6" parsed="|Ps|126|5|126|6" passage="Ps 126:5,6">ver.
5, 6</scripRef>. 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>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126" parsed="|Ps|126|0|0|0" passage="Ps 126" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.1-Ps.126.3" parsed="|Ps|126|1|126|3" passage="Ps 126:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.126.1-Ps.126.3">
<h4 id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.9">The Deliverance from
Captivity.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxxvii-p1.10">
<p id="Ps.cxxvii-p2">A song of degrees.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxvii-p3">1 When the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxvii-p3.1">Lord</span>
turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
  2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue
with singing: then said they among the heathen, The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxvii-p3.2">Lord</span> hath done great things for them.   3
The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxvii-p3.3">Lord</span> hath done great things for
us; <i>whereof</i> we are glad.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvii-p4">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, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.12.9" parsed="|Acts|12|9|0|0" passage="Ac 12:9">Acts xii. 9</scripRef>. 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,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.22.8-Jer.22.9 Bible:Ps.137.7" parsed="|Jer|22|8|22|9;|Ps|137|7|0|0" passage="Jer 22:8,9,Ps 137:7">Jer. xxii. 8, 9; Ps.
cxxxvii. 7</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.3" parsed="|Ps|126|3|0|0" passage="Ps 126:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Hos.9.1" parsed="|Hos|9|1|0|0" passage="Ho 9:1">Hos. ix. 1</scripRef>);
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>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cxxvii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.4-Ps.126.6" parsed="|Ps|126|4|126|6" passage="Ps 126:4-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.126.4-Ps.126.6">
<h4 id="Ps.cxxvii-p4.6">Hope for the Sorrowful.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxvii-p5">4 Turn again our captivity, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxvii-p5.1">O Lord</span>, as the streams in the south.   5
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.   6 He that goeth
forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves <i>with him.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxvii-p6">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 (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.3" parsed="|Neh|1|3|0|0" passage="Ne 1:3">Neh. i. 3</scripRef>), 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 (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.4" parsed="|Ps|126|4|0|0" passage="Ps 126:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): "<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, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.25.25" parsed="|Prov|25|25|0|0" passage="Pr 25:25">Prov. xxv. 25</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxvii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.5-Ps.126.6" parsed="|Ps|126|5|126|6" passage="Ps 126:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. (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>
</div></div2>