Will you celebrate Christmas?
Tis the season to be jolly
Medical Journal 18 Dec 2005:
“This is a period of frenetic activity, a time when people are trying to juggle work, an increase in social obligations, shopping, decorating, wrapping, entertaining and staying on budget. All this leads to a rise in both physical and emotional stress.”
This is also a time of reflection, as the year nears its end. A time when others look back and see the losses they incurred ? loss of a loved one through death, divorce or separation, loss of a job, or even loss of familiar social environment (as in having moved away from home).
"The holidays also bring about unrealistic conceptualizations of the ideal family, evoking feelings that may heighten the tension or conflicts between family members" explains MUHC psychologist, Dr. Michael Spevack. "Over eating and over drinking combined with a decreased amount of sleep is also a formula for extreme emotional swings - feelings of elation followed twelve hours later by a transient drop in mood," explains Spevack.
Turn to the Psalms:
Most quoted OT book in the NT.
Where are the Psalms found? … Exodus; Judges; 1 Samuel; Job (3)
Luther: In the Psalms we look into the heart of every saint
Calvin: In the Psalms we look into a mirror and see our own heart
Every Psalm seems to have my name and address on it.
As we identify with the emotions in this Psalm I want you to notice how joy can be restored.
If you don’t need it for yourself, you may be able to help someone else.
Ps 126 1 A song of ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs 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 are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
1. Why they were happy
a. Ezr 1:1-4 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: 2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Anyone of his people among you—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”
b. When the Romans had vanquished Philip, king of Macedon, they restored liberty to the Grecian cities by proclamation. It was done at the time of the Isthmian games, and by the crier, who went into the circus to proclaim them; none but the Roman general T. Quintius knowing what was to be done. Multitudes from all Greece were there assembled; and the tidings produced nearly the same effect upon them, . When the Romans had sat down to behold the games, the herald with his trumpet went into the arena according to custom, to proclaim the several games. Silence being obtained, he solemnly pronounced the following words: -
“The Roman Senate, and T. Quintius the general, having vanquished king Philip and the Macedonians, do ordain that the Corinthians, Phocensians, all the Locrensians, the island of EubOea, the Magnesians, Thessalians, Perrhaebians, Acheans, and Phthiotians, shall be free, be delivered from all taxes, and live according to their own laws.”
This proclamation of the herald being heard, there was such joy, that the people in general could not comprehend it. Scarcely could any person believe what he had heard. They gazed on each other, wondering as if it had been some illusion, similar to a dream; and although all were interested in what was spoken, none could trust his own ears, but inquired each from him who stood next to him what it was that was proclaimed. The herald was again called, as each expressed the strongest desire not only to hear, but see the messenger of his own liberty: the herald, therefore, repeated the proclamation. When by this repetition the glad tidings were confirmed, there arose such a shout, accompanied with repeated clapping of hands, as plainly showed that of all good things none is so dear to the multitude as Liberty.
2. Why they were sad
a. Loved ones lost
b. Work was hard – land hadn’t been farmed for 50 years
c. They had taken their eyes off God
i. Notice how quickly this happened?
ii. One minute Jesus was welcomed with Palm branches and then next minute the same people crucified him.
d. One minute they were saying “The Lord has done great things for us” and then they are crying “restore us God”
i. Can God do anything that isn’t great?
3. What to do about it
a. There is nothing wrong with tears
i. A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven.
Charles R. Swindoll (1934- )
ii. We should be thankful for our tears; they prepare us for a clearer vision of God.
William Arthur Ward (1812-1882)
b. Ps 56:8 8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?
i. When Jewish people wanted to express their sympathy at funeral, they wouldn’t send flowers. They would take a small bottle and cry into it, and then send that to the family to show how sorry they are.
c. What has this got to do with sowing with tears?
i. It is not sowing tears
1. we tend to mix proverbs and this verse gets mixed up with the law of sowing and reaping
a. What you sow is what you will reap
b. This: if sow tears, reap joy. Ie you will reap the opposite of what you sow.
2. This is not a proverb, it is a truth
a. Sowing is simply the work that has to be done, even when there are things in life that make us cry. The crops won’t wait while we finish our grief or solve all our problems. If we are going to eat next winter, we must get out in the field and sow the seed whether we are crying or not.
3. This psalm teaches the tough truth that there is work to be done whether I am emotionally up for it or not, and it is good for me to do it.
Conc
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him
These things will pass.
Don’t give up on life, do what needs to be done, and you will find that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
God knows what you’re going through … he has a bottle of your tears.
