Read
(A song for worship.)
Celebrating the Harvest
1It seemed like a dream
when the Lord brought us back
to the city of Zion.
2We celebrated with laughter
and joyful songs.
In foreign nations it was said,
“The Lord has worked miracles
for his people.”
3And so we celebrated
because the Lord had indeed
worked miracles for us.
4Our Lord, we ask you to bless
our people again,
and let us be like streams
in the Southern Desert.
5We cried as we went out
to plant our seeds.
Now let us celebrate
as we bring in the crops.
6We cried on the way
to plant our seeds,
but we will celebrate and shout
as we bring in the crops.
Reflect
Singing, laughter, celebration, deliverance! God’s people liberated at last. This is the background to Psalm 126.
Have you ever wondered if what was happening to you was a dream? Such was the case with Peter. Shackled by chains and guarded by four squads of four soldiers each, there was no way he could escape from prison. But the church was praying, and during the night an angel appeared, shook him awake, and told him to hurry. Miraculously the handcuffs fell off and Peter followed the angel out into the city. Was it a dream? When the angel left him, he realized it was real! (Acts 12:1-19).
When the Israelites, after 70 years of captivity in Babylon, were finally back home, it felt like a dream (v 1). But realization dawned. God had set them free! And their deliverance turned to delight. They would have been fools not to sing! (vv 2-3).
We have much to sing about too. Don’t we? We’ve been delivered out of darkness into the glorious light! (Colossians 1:13). And there’s more. In Christ Jesus we’re the children of God (Galatians 3:26), joint heirs with him (Romans 8:17), declared righteous (Romans 5:1), and “filled with all that God is” (Ephesians 3:19).
Are you singing? You should also be praying. Ask God to revive you. Seek the “streams”, literally “torrents”, of living water that will restore and renew you (v 4).
But don’t pray lightly. There’s a price to pay for revival. We must plant with tears, to harvest with joy (vv 5-6). Do you want to see a spiritual harvest? Jesus wept. He wept for a dead man, his friend. He wept for a nation, on a hill outside Jerusalem. And he wept for the world as he hung on the cross. Likewise, we must weep before we can reap.
Respond
Lord, you set the captives free. Hear our prayer for the deliverance and salvation of family and friends. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Lawson Murray
Lawson is the President of Scripture Union Canada and the Managing Editor of theStory™. Lawson takes every opportunity to enthusiastically invite people of all ages to connect with Jesus and His Story. He says, “We have been given the greatest story ever - God's Story! Should we not, with all our might and energy immerse ourselves in it? I believe we should. For without the Story we really have nothing to offer the millions who hunger and thirst for something more. But, with God’s Story we have what everyone needs!” Publications: Bible Engagement Blog; Children’s Ministry Basics Blog, Bible Engagement Basics; Bible Beginners