Joy Sunday

Joy Sunday Psalm 126

1. The Psalm shares Israel history and shares a hope for a glorious and joyful future

• It’s a message about Joy, It’s a message about God power to save Israel and to save Us.

• Notice the verse — "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion" - The Holy City the City of God

2. The Psalm shares there History, there future, and it shares there Joy (The Song of Ascents) They are rising from ashes to riches, from hopelessness to hopefulness, from lowliness to holiness

• There Joyous time was God restored “When the lord restored the fortunes of Zion.” Verse 1

• Perhaps it’s the joy they encountered returning from Babylonian Captivity. You can imagine the joy of the exiles when they approached Jerusalem. The Homeland

• They were rejoicing "their mouths were “filled with laughter” and their tongues “with shouts of joy.” V 2

• The Psalmist writes “we were so blessed. Our hearts were full.” Everything is just right.

3. There Joy came knowing Oh, How Great is our God 3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

• God rolled the waters of Red Sea God helped them survive the wilderness

• God’s mighty power was displayed in A pillar of fire by night, and a cloud by day.

• God’s Mighty Provisions Manna and quail. Water from a rock. The Ten Commandments.

• They remembered the victories of God at Jericho. The slaying of Goliath. The prophet Elijah. The contest on Mount Carmel — and so much more.

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4. They want to experience Joy again and so do we. They ask God restore our presence and our future as you did our past.

• Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses. We sow in tears, but reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves” (vv. 4-6).

• Isn’t that what Christmas and advent is times in our lives when we look back with fondness to a simpler time, perhaps a happier time? Joy of revival we shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves, Camp meeting every year

• We recall the time when everything was going right. There was love, a relationship, children, a good job, good health, and church full, everything one could want to be both happy and full of joy.

• Our relationship with God seemed special, too. Our lives were together. The pieces all fit. Verse 2“We were like those who dream. our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.”

• We need that special joy that comes from God we want the joy of our present and future

5. Israel knew there is a Joy Sunday or a someday and that day maybe today we encounter JOY

• “This is Joy Sunday, Christmas is right around the corner. It’s festive. Decorations are up. Christmas trees are decorated. It’s a beautiful time — even for unbelievers in the secular world:

• Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening

A beautiful sight We’re happy tonight Walking in a winter wonderland

• Joy for the believer is Something else besides bright lights, office parties, rum cookies, cake

• Our Joy happened when The Lord of heavens stopped by in a village, His arrival was announced by angels, notice the words Then an angel said , — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord

• On Joy Sunday, Let’s put joy on display. Let’s give the world some Jesus

• Jesus Joy is needed today Restore our fortunes, Restore our confidence in a God who can roll back not just the waters of the Red Sea but roll back our worries, frustrations, defeats, and losses. Restore our Brokenness, our frailness, our relationship with you; we want those special moments back where you were clearly present in our hearts.

• Restore Joy Sunday the days when I can’t wait for Sunday morning to come to church