#DailyDevotion Though We Sow With Tears, We Shall Reap With Rejoicing
Psalm 126 When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues were shouting happily. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD did great things for them.” 3The LORD has done great things for us – we are glad! 4O LORD, make us prosperous again as the streams return in the South. 5Though you may sow with tears, you will reap with shouts of joy. 6Though you may go out weeping, carrying your seed bag, you will surely come home singing, carrying your sheaves.
This psalm of ascent seems to be written after the exile to Babylon. While the LORD used the hand of the wicked king of Babylon to punish His people for their idolatry, He now uses the wicked king of Persia to restore them back to their homeland. It had been seventy years and no doubt most of those two and a half generations who were alive at the beginning of the exile were no more. Only the youngest who may have had only a glimmer of Zion’s former glory were still left. Yet, while in exile, the LORD used His prophets to re-educate the people in the ways of the LORD. They knew of Israel’s former glory. Now to be actually going home must have seemed like a dream to them. Since they were returning home as a nation, to their own land their mouths were filled with laughter and they shouted happily. In remembrance of this restoration, this psalm was written to be sung as they ascended Mt. Zion to the Temple of the LORD.
Those who perhaps were converted later in life or who fell away and were reconverted, know the feeling of living for a short time as if in a dream. They remember the weight and burden of sin, guilt and shame being removed from them. They remember being delivered from the bondage of darkness to the marvelous light of the LORD. Those who were baptized as babies and never fell away may still feel this when they go to the LORD’s Supper, private confession and absolution or even the public absolution at the beginning of the service. Yet both must drudge along the Way of happy destiny, as the final verses address. I do see these first several verses being fulfilled in their totality when the LORD Jesus Christ returns and His kingdom reigns on earth without hindrance. When we shed these mortal bodies weighed down by sin and receive from the LORD Jesus Christ an immortal, imperishable, and glorious body like His, it will indeed be like a dream.
The nations declared the LORD has done great things for them. While the nations opposed the Jews rebuilding of the city walls and the Temple, nevertheless, when the LORD fought for the Jews and had them succeed, they could do no less than declare the LORD has done great things for them. We join in the hymn the LORD has done great things for us. More loudly and greatly shall we sing this when Jesus takes us from this veil of tears into His marvelous light. The nations will agains say how great the LORD is as He delivers us from their hands on that great and terrible day. So we petition the LORD to make us prosperous again.
Before we experience that truly awesome life in the resurrection of our flesh and creation though, we shall sow with tears. Jesus promises in Matt. 5, “4Blessed are those who mourn – they will be comforted.” So in Matt. 10 Jesus says, “38If you don’t take your cross and follow Me, you’re not worthy of Me. 39If you find your life, you’ll lose it, but if you lose your life for Me, you’ll find it.” Again in chapter 16 He says, “If you want to follow Me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and come with Me. 25If you want to save your soul, you will lose it. But if you will lose your soul for Me, you will find it.” In Rom. 8 Paul says, “we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory. 18I think what we suffer now isn’t important when I compare it with the glory to be revealed to us.” So yes, in this life we will sow with tears but we shall at the end of the age reap with shouts of joy. We will come home singing carrying the sheaves, the fruits of our present suffering.
Heavenly Father, preserve us in the faith as we sow with tears in this age, we may have glimpses of the glory to come and at the end experience the joy of glory. In Jesus’ name we pray.Amen.