Psalms 126
Summary for Ps 126:1-6: Ps 126 a This hymn celebrates Israel’s return from exile (126:1-3 b). The psalmist prays for full restoration (126:4-6 c).Summary for Ps 126:1-3: 126:1-3 d The Lord brought about Israel’s restoration from exile, just as he had brought Israel out of Egypt (114:1 e). The restoration transformed the weeping of the Lord’s people into laughter and showed the Lord’s character to the nations (9:11 f; 64:9 g; Isa 12:4 h).
Summary for Ps 126:4-6: 126:4-6 i The prophets had spoken of the restoration as a time when the wilderness would change into the Garden of Eden (Isa 51:3 j; Ezek 47 k); the reality fell far short of paradise. Here the restoration community prays for full redemption (see Hag 2:19 l).
• as streams renew the desert: The seasonal rains filled the dry river beds (wadis), and the land turned green again. The prayer looks for a similar transformation of Israel’s fortunes, a fulfillment of the imagery of the “Second Exodus” in Isaiah (see thematic note for The Promise of a Second Exodus at end of chapter).
• The harvest represents God’s full restoration.
Thematic note: The Promise of a Second Exodus
Like the exodus from Egypt, Israel’s return from exile would restore God’s people to the land. Just as they had left Egypt many years before, the people of Israel would leave Babylon (Isa 48:20-21 m). This time they would have to be cleansed (52:11 n) and would not rush their departure (52:12 o).
Both the experience in exile and the journey are likened to a desert (see 35:1 p) from which the Lord would bring rescue. He prepares a road through the desert (43:19 q), transforms the desert into a watering hole with vegetation and animals (43:19-20 r), removes obstacles along the way (42:16 s; 49:11 t), guides his people through the desert (42:16 u; 58:11 v; 63:13 w), feeds them (49:10 x), protects them from the desert heat (49:10 y), and strengthens them (58:11 z). He changes the experience of the exiles from sorrow to great joy (51:3 aa) and pours out his Spirit on them (44:3-4 ab).
An exodus of sorts also occurs for all those who believe in Christ—an exodus from sin and death through Christ’s death and the power of his resurrection. The Holy Spirit enables believers to live in newness of life and to serve God with joy as they await the coming of his kingdom in all its fullness.
Passages for Further Study
Isa 35:8-10 ac; 42:14-16 ad; 43:18-21 ae; 44:3-4 af; 48:20-21 ag; 49:9-12 ah; 52:11-12 ai; 58:8-12 aj; Jer 31:2-17 ak; Joel 3:17-21 al; Luke 1:78-79 am; John 7:38 an; 15:19 ao; 2 Cor 5:17 ap; 6:17-18 aq; Eph 5:8 ar; Col 1:13 as; Heb 13:12-14 at; Rev 7:16 au
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