Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Daily reading assignment – Psalms 125-127
Psalms 125-127 continues a section of songs in the Book of Psalms known as “A Song of Degrees”. As a reminder, though there is some debate regarding the word “degrees”, many suggest pilgrims sang this collection of psalms as they ascended to Jerusalem and the Temple for a feast day. The mention of Mount Zion in Psalms 125 and 126 support that theory.
We live in a sin-cursed, fallen world where the wicked often seem advantaged in the course of our journey; however, Psalm 125 exhorts us to put our faith in the LORD for our life and fate is in His hands. Unlike the challenges of this vacillating, ever-changing world, the saints who “trust in the LORD” are stable (125:1), not moved by fear or given to flight.
Built upon the mountains of Zion, Jerusalem provided the people of that city a natural, fortified protection from their enemies. Sitting upon the mount, Jerusalem was an impressive site from a distance and the deep ravines that cut through the mount were formidable. As the mountains of Zion provided safety and security to Jerusalem, the LORD provides the same to His people whose trust is in Him.
Psalm 126 records the joy of the Jews as they returned from Babylonian captivity to Mount Zion. For the Jews, it was a long-awaited prophecy fulfilled, a dream come true for the nation (126:1). The people returned with their mouths “filled with laughter” and their tongues “with singing” (126:2a).
The heathen of the land marveled that Israel, after nearly seventy years in exile, was returning to her land (126:2) and testified, “The LORD hath done great things for them” (126:2b). The Jews echoed the same saying, “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (126:3).
Returning to the land after captivity was fraught with challenges for the Jews. Jerusalem was in ruins; heathen people took possession of their lands and houses in their absence and, after seven decades, thorns and thistles had reclaimed the land. The people faced the challenge of rebuilding their cities and walls and the hardship of clearing the land; however, the law of nature promised, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (126:5).
Having the privilege of growing up on a small farm, I remember well clearing the land of rocks, pulling up briars and weeds, and breaking the ground in anticipation of planting seed. As a child, I did not appreciate the labor and hardships necessary to plant seed; however, I enjoyed the fruit (i.e. vegetables) of my labor…sweet corn, green beans, yellow squash, juicy tomatoes, and cucumbers!
The principle for “sowing and reaping” is applicable to our spiritual lives (126:6).
While the farmer’s plow clears the land of briars and thorns, the toil of reading, studying and meditating in God’s Word pulls up briars of worldliness and clears thistles of lusts from our hearts, preparing our souls for precious truths and sowing in our hearts principles that strengthen our character, shape our thoughts and mature us.
Psalm 126:5-6 gives us a principle that is applicable to sharing the Gospel and the work of the Great Commission. We are promised, tears precede joy (126:5) and sowing “precious seed” promises a harvest of fruit (126:6).
Were there more tears and toil on our part in sharing the Gospel, would there not be more reason for rejoicing? Were we to show more compassion for lost souls and hurting hearts, would we not have greater cause for joy?
I am afraid the majority of believers are cocooned in selfish pursuits and content to toil away their time, talents and life isolated from hurting hearts and lost souls. No wonder the 21st century church finds itself irrelevant; we are entertaining the masses or huddled in our Bible studies, to the neglect of going forth weeping for lost souls and “bearing precious seed” (126:6)!
Galatians 6:7-9 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Copyright 2017 – Travis D. Smith
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