Psalm 126
The Psalms are the hymns of the Bible. Written by the ancient Hebrews they were songs originally sung as expressions of worship of God. Psalm 126 is the 7th of 15 Psalms known as the Songs of Ascent. They are Psalms within the Psalms. These fifteen Psalms were sung by the Jews as they made their way up to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts; Passover,
Introduction:
Haiti- A church/impact upon the nation.
Psalm 126 is a song that expresses a desire for God to restore His own people and bless them in such a way that the effect would be felt among the nations around them. So, what we have here is a prayer that we can pray for God to bring a spiritual renewal in our own congregation and renewal that will spread out and make an impact to the farthest ends of the earth.
It’s sort of like asking God to start a fire in our church, a spiritual fire, that will spread across our city, across our county, across our state, across, across our nation, and then around the world. This Psalm presents us with a vision for a great and surprising work of God that results in a thunderous missionary impact. So, we can trace the surprising work of God by noting the missionary vision of a revived church and the missionary commitment of a revived church.
I. The missionary vision of a revived church (1-3).
- A. A vision of God’s grace (verse 1).
The psalmist recalls a time of revival or renewal among the people of God. Many think this might be a reference to the return of Israel from Babylonian exile. It might also simply be a recollection of some other time when the Lord worked mightily on behalf of His chosen people. Either way, notice that the Psalmist is celebrating what God had done; God and no other.
The Lord did it; the Lord and no other. The Lord’s work was so astounding that it felt like a dream to the Psalmist. Now, that it is a vision to desire and to work toward. That God would so move upon us as His own people that we would wonder if it were all some glorious dream.
Haiti: The Lord working to restore in Haiti
God has done great things in surprising ways for his people in the past. We can have great hope that He can do it again and might be pleased to. A revived church is the great need not only in Haiti, but also in America. I read recently that North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing.[1] Perhaps history is arranged, in the providence of God, for a surprising renewal church in America. Perhaps we can be a part of new and fresh wind of the Spirit blowing in our own day purifying and reinvigorating the church in American.
This is a vision of God’s grace. The Lord can do this and only the Lord can do this. Let us look to Him for it and be encouraged that He has surprised us in the past; He may surprise us in the future.
- B. A vision of God’s glory (verse 2-3).
Notice the words “laughter” and “shouts of joy.” The Psalmist recalls a time when the blessings of God were so real upon His people that they were filled with unspeakable joy so much so that they were overflowing with expressed gratitude. The people of God did not simply feel gratitude inwardly; they were moved to express gratitude to God outwardly. They told the nations “God has done great things for us; we are glad!” They had a vision of God’s magnificent glory and they declared God’s glory to all the nations.
Illustration: Joy in Haiti
“It is the repenting reforming people that are, and shall be, the rejoicing people” (Matthew Henry).
Through the word of God and through the gospel of God our eyes are opened to the most magnificent vision in the universe; God Himself. We can hope for nothing greater than to see God and to know God. When we see Him and when we know Him through Jesus Christ, we will rejoice! And our rejoicing in Christ is the compelling declaration we can make in our town and in our world.
Though we have the same problems and challenges and struggles as our unbelieving friends yet we have found a vision that enables us to stand in our hardships and not only stand but stand with great joy. When our friends ask us “What is the source of your joy in life?” We will “The Lord has done great things for us and nothing greater than sending His own Son to die for ours in and rise for our justification and eternal happiness. ”
- C. A vision of God’s goal (verse 2).
This is the culmination of a missionary vision. A church that recognizes its eternal blessed state through the gospel will cause the nations to marvel. Verse 2 “The Lord has done great things for them.” Here at Calvary we spend a lot of time, money, prayers, and effort to go and to send others to go to the ends of the earth telling people about Jesus Christ. I’m glad we do and I pray that this will only increase. But why should we be so committed to missions?
Haiti: Illustration of nations
We go to the ends of earth because God has made our hearts glad through Jesus Christ. We desire that people of every nation come to know this same joy. We believe that God has called us to go and share our joy in Christ. God does the work among the nations and He does His work through His own people. Our joy compels us to go, to share, to suffer if necessary that others may have the same joy in Christ.
II. The missionary commitment of a revived church (4-6).
This brings us to the missionary commitment of a revived church. A missionary vision is greatly needed in a local church, but a vision is never fulfilled without commitment. Any vision takes commitment to fulfill and the missionary vision requires and demands great commitment on behalf of God’s people. There are three commitments that we must make in order to express an appropriate missionary commitment consistent with a revived and renewed church.
- A. Prayer (verse 4).
“Restore our fortunes.” This is a cry for God to work for His people to renew and restore them. It is a recognition that only God can ultimately do the great work of restoration.
Haiti: Prayer/Need for God to work/sense of dependence.
All around us are souls that need to be saved. Souls that are living in the misery and sorrow of sin. But sin so blinds the human soul that it can not see the freedom and joy that is to be found in Christ. Even our greatest efforts to evangelize and to do mission are vain if God Himself does not open blinded eyes to the glory of the gospel. Therefore, perhaps our most important work is to pray to God that He will do what only He can do. Only God can open blinded eyes. Only God can save a soul from sin and death. Whether its up the street at Presidential or across the Gulf in Port a Prince. We must pray that God will save.
- B. Sacrifice (verse 5-6).
But to our prayers we must tears and service. Notice verse 5. So, there is a balance here, we must pray knowing that only God can save, but we must also give and go knowing that God will only save through the efforts of His people.
Haiti: Tears and Sorrow
In America material things are so easy. Everything is so convenient for us. I’m not complaining! Upon returning from Haiti, I want to thank God for the simple things; (hot showers, fresh food, refrigeration, air conditioning, etc.). We should thank God for all these things and receive them with gratitude.
But I’m afraid we’re in danger of being seduced by our conveniences. I’m afraid we’re in danger of losing a willingness to suffer and sacrifice for anything at all including the glorious missionary call that God has given to us in his word. God has ordained that some things will be accomplished only with tears and sorrow.
O how often do we complain and contemplate giving up when something gets difficult. Our American infatuation with convenience threatens to destroy us because if something gets difficult we just quit. Job is hard, just quit. Marriage is hard, just quit. School work is hard, just quit. Fighting sin is hard, just quit.
Life in Haiti, but they can’t just quit. There’s no where to go. Friends, the Christian is hard, but you can’t quit. The alternative is hell. Hell is hard, much harder than any trial in this life, and nobody can quit hell. .
Are you weary in the Christian; don’t quit, sow in tears. Weary in marriage; sow seeds of faithfulness in tears. Weary in your fight with aging; don’t quit, sow in tears. It won’t last forever. “The troubles of the saints will not always last” (MH).
Would you be willing to join the effort to build a strong, healthy, holy church and to fulfill the missionary mandate of Jesus Christ even if its hard? Matthew Henry wrote, “Weeping must not hinder sowing; when we suffer ill we must be doing well” (MH).
Verse 6 concludes this Psalm with the image of sowing and reaping, planting and harvesting. As Christians we are called to plant the seed of the word of God. Planting isn’t easy or glamorous work. We quietly sow the seed of God’s word into our children’s hearts through family worship, or morning devotions. We steadily sow the seed of the word of God in conversations with coworkers and neighbors. We faithfully sow the seed through Sunday school lessons, bible studies, and sermons.
And sometimes we can’t see the fruit of it all. Sometimes it appears as though our work is in vain. But God has made us a great promise in this verse. “He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him”
Keep the sowing the seed. Keep planting the gospel. In the hearts of your children, your neighbors, your bible studies, and God will give the increase in His own time and in His own measure.
Conclusion: Notice verse 4 “like streams in the Negeb.” The Psalmist has in mind a place that is parched and dry and barren, so much so that person could die of thirst for want of water. Yet, this barren wasteland is turned into a place covered with pristine streams able to satisfy the land and the weary traveler with fresh water.
Haiti: Water
I’m reminded of the immoral woman who came to the well to fill her water jar one dry afternoon. She met the fountain of living water when she saw Jesus at the well. Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(John 4:13-14).
The greatest need in Haiti and every other corner of the world is for the living water that only Jesus can give. Only Jesus can satisfy the thirsty longings of the human soul. As a congregation we have the great joy and privilege to take the living water to the people who are living in spiritual wastelands. This is our missionary vision; to take Jesus to thirsty souls. This vision is so compelling that we must give every ounce of effort and sacrifice to it.
But I close by asking you this morning, “Is the thirst of your soul satisfied?” In America we are blessed beyond our ability to recognize. We can turn on a spicket and any moment and drink clean cool thirst satisfying water. But none of our material blessings can slake the thirst of our souls. Just like the Haitians or the Africans or the Asians or the Europeans or the ancient Israelites our souls thirst for the water of life who is Jesus Christ.
“Is the thirst of your soul satisfied this morning?” Have you drank from the water that Jesus gives?” Come this morning and drink of Him by faith in what He has on the cross and in His triumphant resurrection.
[1] Churchplantingvillage.com
