April 17, 2019 (Wednesday)
Psalm 126 is a psalm that offers you hope when you are in the midst of trouble and tears. It tells us that times of trouble and sorrow do not last. God will turn your sorrow to joy and your tears to laughter. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. And one day we will leave all the sorrows of this world behind for the eternal joys that await us in heaven.
There is a time for sowing and a time for reaping. Perhaps you are in a time of sowing right now. Take comfort. Your time of reaping will come. The harvest awaits. This is God’s promise to you. God will turn your tears to joy.
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents.
I. Marvel at how God has helped you in the past (1-3)
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
II. Trust God to do it again (4-6)
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them
.
Psalm 127 is the only psalm in the Psalms of Ascent attributed to King Solomon. In fact you can even find his name hidden in the psalm. You know how artists sometimes hide their names in their paintings? Well Solomon has done the same with this psalm. The word translated “those he loves” in verse two is the Hebrew word “Jedidiah,” which means “beloved.” This was the special name God gave to Solomon in 2 Samuel 12:25.
Normally we think of Solomon as a writer of proverbs rather than psalms, but the Bible tells us that he wrote over a thousand songs. (1 Kings 4:32) Perhaps his proverbs were better than his songs – we certainly have a lot more of them! But we have this song preserved for us, and you will notice that it even resembles the book of Proverbs in some ways. Like Proverbs it is full of short phrases and vivid imagery. It is categorized as a wisdom poem. Yet it is more connected than Proverbs. All the phrases work together as a unit, and therefore it is more appropriate as a song. Unlike Proverbs, Psalm 127 had a melody and would actually have been sung as a song. Today Jews recite this psalm as part of a thanksgiving service following the birth of a child.
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents.
Of Solomon
I. God’s Blessing and Provision in Your Work (1-2)
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat–
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
II. God’s Blessing and Provision in Your Home (3-5)
3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
Psalm 128. Everyone wants to be happy. Few people are willing to follow God’s way to get there. The world thinks being a Christian takes away your joy. They couldn’t be more wrong. The greatest joys in life come from knowing God and living under his blessing. And that in a nutshell is what Psalm 128 is all about.
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents.
I. Blessed Are All Who Fear the Lord (1-4)
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.
II. A Prayer of Blessing for Those Who Fear the Lord (5-6a)
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children–
peace be on Israel.
III. A Prayer for Peace Upon Israel (6b)
Peace be on Israel.
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Outlines of Scripture and some quotes are from Ray Fowler. Click here for a list of his sermons on “Psalms of Ascent”