Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]


Welcome to ZionFireFriends. We're glad you're here! Our public forums are open, but you must be logged in to participate in the discussions and member forums. You can become a ZFFriend just by submitting a quick registration. You be notified by email with your login information, usually within a few minutes. If you do not receive a validation email, first check your bulk or spam folder. If not, then please contact us through the Help Me! button below and we will validate you.

Posted Image Who we are, what this forum is about
Posted Image Benefits of of becoming a ZFF member
Posted Image click here for registration form
Posted Image Can't register or log in? Ask for help.
Posted Image Take a tour of our worship banners

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Psalm 126; Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity
Topic Started: Mar 25 2013, 12:52 AM (601 Views)
DeanZF
Member Avatar
Resident Rebbi

Psalm 126
Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity
A Song of Ascents
  1. When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion,
    We were like those who dream.
  2. Then our mouth was filled with laughter
    And our tongue with joyful shouting;
    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 captivity, O LORD,
    As the streams in the South.
  5. Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
  6. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
    Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
While this psalm is thought to be related to the Babylon captivity, some feel that might have been about Assyrian King Sennacherib's attack on Jerusalem more than a century before they had to deal with Babylon. The descendents of Jacob spent a lot of time dealing with captors and conquerors, so this psalm could be a reminder for any and all of those situations.

There is a great story that was shared through missionary channels. The area immediately south of the Sahara is called the Sahel. It's described as being "semi-arid". It is a harsh land. The people raise grain and harvest from any nearby water or field sources. The story told was that as the rains dry up, the grain is harvested. After that, the family must live on their harvest. Imagine being mom and watching as the stores run lower and lower, babies losing weight, and older kids and dad are trying to scavenge for whatever they can to supplement their meager rations. It's a month before the rainy season and they are using their last bag of grain; they have months to wait for this year's harvest. The eldest son came running in with excitement, "Look! Look! You overlooked a bag of grain, papa!" He was expecting a feast. Papa looked sad and shared, "No, that is our seed for when the rains come. We must not eat that bag of grain." The son's shoulders slump with sadness and growling belly. Weeks later, papa sees the beginning of the rain clouds forming, takes his seed and begins to plant. His tears flow as he sees his children looking longingly at the seed being put into the ground and not into the pot. "They who sow in tears..." When the harvest comes, the pain will be a faded memory as papa brings his sheaves.
Blessings!

Dean
DeanZ
F
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Psalms of Ascent · Next Topic »
Add Reply