Third Sunday of Advent: Psalm 126 | The Rev. Chad E. JarnaginPsalm 126 A Song of Ascents.1 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 it was said among the nations,“The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us,and we rejoiced.4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,like the watercourses in the Negeb (or Negev). 5 May those who sow in tearsreap with shouts of joy.6 Those who go out weeping,bearing the seed for sowing,shall come home with shouts of joy,carrying their sheaves.On the day that we light the candle of Joy, this is an amazing Psalm. As it begins with an important framing...The phrase, “we were like those who dream,”... In terms of theological context, “those who dream” are prophets – those who receive visions from God (see Joel 2:28-29). The means of restoration is the re-opening of communication between God and people. In terms of the emotional context, “those who receive visions” often experience and express ecstatic joy, like David dancing before the Lord. The picture in the Psalm is a spontaneous and uncontainable joy: “our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.” This is beyond a mood, it is a deep sense of joy.The first portion of this Psalm contains a surprising testimony concerning God’s graciousness that is visible in more of the Old Testament than we normally give credit. The very nations (like Zion, here) witnessed the restoration of the people to their land and to their God... and they said, “The Lord has done great things...” Thinking ahead to the New Testament, we are reminded of the non-Israelite magi coming to worship the one who was born “King of the Jews,” or the Roman centurion who announced, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” Even more surprising, the nations’ testimony to God’s deeds inspires Israel to respond with its own testimony, repeating the words of the nations verbatim: “The Lord has done great things for us” (v. 3). There is a overwhelming sense of gratitude that is at the beginning of their joy. The second portion develops and rephrases them in the form of renewed appeals for restoration (this is similar to the structure of Psalm 85) - The people ask God to restore them, in hope to rejoice again.These images may reflect a prayer for rescue from drought, but they may also simply be metaphors for people in need of God’s renewal. Renewal of anything. Financial renewal, health, spiritual, mental renewal... relational renewal.Remember that the world waited 400 years for the coming of the Messiah after the prophecies. There is no limit to the waiting we may have to endure... but that waiting doesn’t have to limit our capacity of joy. Gratitude can be the beginning of joy.
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