5th Sunday In Lent, Year C. Series

Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4-14, John 12:1-8.

A). GOD IS DOING A NEW THING.

Isaiah 43:16-21.

Isaiah reminds us of how the Sovereign LORD had opened the Red Sea, and made a path through the Jordan (Isaiah 43:16-17). Yet the Prophet is only looking back in order to look forward: “remember not” the former things - don’t yearn for what we might call the ‘good old days’ - for the LORD is doing a “new” thing (Isaiah 43:18-19)!

The return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, whilst echoing the national epic of Israel, would far surpass it. Now the LORD was making a highway in the wilderness, and in place of the 40 years of seemingly aimless wanderings (Numbers 32:13) would be a swift journey under God’s protection (Ezra 8:31). The beasts of the field are pictured as marvelling at the gracious provision of the LORD (Isaiah 43:20)!

The name Judah means ‘Praise’ (Genesis 29:35) - and now at last the Jewish people would be in a position to show forth the praise of their God (Isaiah 43:21).

Christians, too, can look back upon the Red Sea miracle, and recall what Jesus spoke about with Moses and Elijah in the mount of Transfiguration: the "exodus" which He would accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). How much more should we show forth our praise to the God who, in Christ, has washed us from our sins and made us a new people in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

B). A HARVEST OF JOY.

Psalm 126.

The common heading within this group of fifteen Psalms (Psalms 120-134) is “A Song of degrees” - a reference, some believe, to the miracle of the sun going back by ten degrees as a pledge to King Hezekiah that the LORD would extend his life by fifteen years (Isaiah 38:4-8). Certainly Hezekiah appears to have been involved in the compilation of the Book of Psalms (2 Chronicles 29:30). Or perhaps these are songs for the pilgrimage up to Jerusalem for the solemn feasts (Exodus 23:14-17), or even “songs of ascent” up the steps towards the Temple.

Despite some ambiguity concerning the right interpretation of the Hebrew tenses, Psalm 126 appears to first look back to past mercies (Psalm 126:1-3), pause to pray over a present situation (Psalm 126:4), then looks forward with keen anticipation of future blessings (Psalm 126:5-6). This seems to be the most natural reading of the text. It is certainly a sound method of prayer to build a case for our petitions based in the past mercies of God, rather than diving in headfirst with our shopping list of requests.

The occasion of the Psalm’s composition, and the events referred to throughout are purposely vague. Historically, the turning of the captivity of Zion (Psalm 126:1) might reach all the way back to the release of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. In Hezekiah’s day this concept could be applied to the close call which Zion herself (Jerusalem) had when the Assyrians threatened her borders (Isaiah 37:33-36).

Psalm 126 would later also apply to the Jews returning to Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon. There were returns under a Davidic prince named Zerubbabel, as well as under Ezra and under Nehemiah. The end of their captivity was not achieved overnight: there were tussles with enemies within the holy land, giving rise to the need for more prayers for deliverance at each phase.

This Psalm is also a song for the church, and for God’s people in every generation. The salvation which is ours in Christ Jesus is the greatest deliverance of all. Beyond that, there have been divine interventions in our lives from time to time, concerning health, or finances, or answers to prayer on behalf of our families, communities, churches and friends.

In the face of such blessings, we are as those that dream (Psalm 126:1). We stand amazed at the infinite mercy of God. We laugh and sing for joy (Psalm 126:2), and even those of our acquaintances who do not believe as we do cannot deny the wonder of God’s dealings with us.

Our testimony backs up the impression that others have of us. With a shout of triumph and a cry of victory, we proclaim that the LORD has indeed done great things for us (Psalm 126:3). This intense joy resonates throughout the Psalm (Psalm 126:2; Psalm 126:5; Psalm 126:6).

Psalm 126:4 asks God to bring greater deliverance even than that which has gone before, just like He fills the watercourses of the Negev - the dry parched desert in the south of the land - with torrents of water. There is no holding back in the Psalmist’s prayer, so well does he know his God. This is in keeping with the church’s prayer in every age: ‘Revive thy cause in the midst of the years, in wrath remember mercy’ (Habakkuk 3:2); ‘Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us O Lord, that thy people may rejoice in thee?’ (Psalm 85:6).