#878 Laughter and Joy

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then they said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3 The Lord has done great things for us;

we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like streams in the Negeb!

5 Those who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!

6 He who goes out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126 ESV

A song of Ascent, the Lord restores.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion - Israel has known captivity, slavery in Egypt before ever entering Jerusalem, the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities, Persian and then Rome much after this was written. As members of the fallen human race we are all born slaves and captives to sin. 

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.…

…18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.… Romans 6: 15-20

We were like those who dream - It was too good to be true, probability stood in our way, it defies human reason. 

v. At times Christian revival has been described in these terms. J. Edwin Orr’s book All Your Need records the description of J. Oswald Sanders of the 1936 revival at Ngaruawahia, New Zealand: “For some time before Easter, a spirit of unusual expectancy had been kindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, but the reality far exceeded the expectation. Those of us who were responsible for the conduct of the camp had the great joy of sitting back and seeing God work in a sovereign way. We were as men that dreamed.” Cited from Enduring Word

…8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.… 1 Corinthians 2: 8-10

Then our mouth was filled with laughter - Filled! I have been witness to both pagans and some of those who proclaim Christ, searching for some sign of euphoria through great strain, standing, swaying, and even writhing on the ground. It is the same way they treat faith, as though it is something to muster up, to demand and will into being. Faith is a gift according to Scripture and the people here in this song have received. This is a most natural response to the work God has done by grace. The emotion follows the realization, we were captives, dead in our trespasses and sin, and so how can this great thing be? Pinch me, I must be dreaming. 

The Lord has done great things for them - A true revival does not go without notice, even our neighbors, our enemies can see. Let our lives give testament to the glorious, merciful work of our salvation. Let men see me and say, "that is not of Calvin, only God could do that."

The Lord has done great things for us - Yes, we attest to that. We were lost, captive, slaves, and He has set us not only free, but restored us to fellowship. 

We are glad - It is the poorest of preaching that leads to a surface confession, that does not address sin and it's wages. If you are not motivated by the cross, if you do not find yourself in awe of redemption, your heart filled with the joys of a home beyond, then what did you believe? I may not always be happy with current situations, but I have only to remember the joy of my salvation, and I am glad.

- “It is a poor modesty which is ashamed to own its joy in the Lord. Call it rather a robbery of God.” (Spurgeon)

Restore our fortunes, O Lord - The joy of what they thought permanently lost leads them to hope for more. Being born again is amazing, but it also brings with it the knowledge and desire for holiness. We are thankful for our salvation, but our spirit is now at war with our flesh. We are not content to stay babes, but desire to grow in stature by the word of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, being conformed daily to His image. 

…23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.… Romans 7: 23-25

Like the streams in the Negeb - Seasonal creeks, dry river beds, waiting for the rains of heaven to fill them. 

Those who sew in tears - Those, who once mourned, are comforted to the point of great joy. Let the sorrow over sin be the irrigation of your land. You will reap more than you have planted.