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Meditation of the Day“Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy;
He
who goes out weeping – carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy – carrying sheaves
with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6)
This verse was often used by many evangelists of old to
illustrate the necessity of heart wrenching in the salvation of souls – the
“sheaves” being brought back from the field. However, when we look closely at the context, we see that
there is an
even greater joy to be anticipated by God's faithful remnant as they sing while
they make their pilgrimage to Zion. Herein, we see the psalmist praising Yahweh for His restoration of
His chosen city, Zion (also known as Jerusalem and the city of David).
Most likely, this Psalm was composed after the destruction of both
Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians, and thus created a great
anticipation of Yahweh’s promises to restore not only His people, but also His
holy city and His holy temple. For us who live on this side of the cross of Jesus Christ,
we also live in an age with great anticipation and tension.
With the faithful remnant of the OT, we too long for the full restoration
of God’s Kingdom here on earth, where He will reign from His throne in Zion,
surrounded by His faithful elect. With the coming of Christ and His perfect work of
redemption, those who are united to Him by faith have already “come to Mount
Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God” (Hebrews 12:22).
And yet, we see that Jerusalem has not fully descended from heaven to
earth (cf. Revelation 21:2, 10). This
is what many theologians call the “now/not yet” tension that believers
experience as we await Christ’s second coming: He has brought the Kingdom, yet
the Kingdom has not fully arrived in its entirety. And so we with the psalmist, as we make our pilgrimage to the city of the living God must rejoice, for Christ has indeed “brought back the captives to Zion” (v. 1) with His perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for the sins of His people. As we contemplate Christ's glorious atonement for us, our mouths too must be filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy” (v. 2a). As the Great Commission is
being fulfilled, the
nations are indeed beginning to see that Yahweh has done great things for His people
(v. 2b). As we await that day, let us with the psalmist continue to cry out, “Restore our
fortunes, O Yahweh, like streams in the Negev.”
Or as John the revelator cried out, let us also cry, “Even so, Lord Jesus, come!” With great confidence, let us remember that the Lord is
coming to restore not only His city, but He is also coming to restore His
people. Though this age is filled
with “tears” and “weeping”, we are not like the rest of this hopeless
world. Anticipation creates in our
hearts “songs of joy” as we await God’s restoration of His creation. May the world hear our sweet song – regardless of the
pains we are experiencing. We will
return with great joy, carrying our sheaves with us! Amen, come Lord Jesus. O Spirit of holiness, remind us of our inheritance already
laid up for in Christ. Thank you
for sealing us with the hope of glory. Give
us patience to endure the trials of this age as we eagerly await the return of
our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly bodies to be
like His glorious body, even by the power that enables Him to bring everything
under His control. For Christ and His glory, Pastor Ryan
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