Psalm 126:1-6 THE PSALM OF THE SOWING SAINT Intro: From Psalm 120 and continuing to Psalm 134, these Psalms are called “Songs of Degrees.” Psalm 126 is the seventh of these fifteen. I. THEIR PRAISE v. 1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. a) Praise Over The Provider of Life - 1a “when the Lord turned again”
b) Praise In The Problems of Life - 1b "captivity"
c) Praise For The People of Life - 1c “of Zion”
d) Praise With The Pondering’s of Life - 1d “like those who dream”
A. They Speak Of Their Deliverance – v. 1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion The Lord Had :- (a) Redeemed Them (b) Rejected Them (because of sin) (c) Remembered Them Gen 8:1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; (d) Restored Them the LORD turned again He Was the Reason, the Resource, & the Result Of Their Deliverance B. They Speak Of Their Delight – v. 1 we were like them that dream Their Delight In :- a) A Smiling Glory - 2 “then was our mouth filled with laughter”
b) A Singing Gladness - 2 "and our tongue with singing"
c) A Sovereign Greatness - 2 "then said they among the heathen, the
Lord hath done great things for them"
1. In The Light Of Their Past Delivered From Bondage We have been delivered from death and Hell by the grace of God. 2. In The Light Of Their Present Restored To Israel Our names have been written down in glory. We are children of the living God! 3. In The Light Of Their Prospects Home Again Chastened But Challenged We have a reason to rejoice. Psalm. 103:1-4; Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; C.They Speak Of Their Decision – v. 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Hab 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. II. THEIR PRAYER v. 4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. A. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DROUGHT. v4 Turn again our captivity Others Still In Bondage
B. THE DESIRE IN THE DROUGHT. v4 Turn again Burden For Others C. THE DELIVERANCE FROM THE DROUGHT as the streams in the south.
Philip 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Fullnes in God to meet need John Knox, “Give me Scotland, or I die!” George Whitefield, “Give me souls or take my soul!” Paul, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:” (Romans 9:3.) III. THEIR PROMISE v. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. A. The Task Of The Sower – The sower is to “go forth” and sow seed. The verb form there is in the present tense. This speaks of a continual, consistent going and sowing. Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:. That word “Go” has the idea of “as you go.” B. The Tears Of The Sower – They that sow in tears, v. 6. Why does he weep? Because everything depends on the harvest. ie. Eternal Salvation Or Damnation Isaiah 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. C. The Triumph Of The Sower – shall reap in joy Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. IV. THEIR PURPOSE 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. a) It's Personal - 6 "He”
b) It's Present Tense - 6 "continually goes forth." goeth
c) It's Passionate - 6 “weeping”
d) It's Productive - 6 “shall doubtless come again with rejoicing ”
Galatians 6:9: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. The Greatest Single Verse for Defeating Discouragement" Allow me to give you a picture of how one gets to discouragement. Delight….First saved, first surrendered, first serving. Duty...Every Christian is under divine obligation to work and witness for the glory of God. “Woe is me, if I preach not the gospel...” “Rescue the perishing, duty demands it.” Difficulty...With every duty there is some difficulty. We face an external foe in the world, and an internal foe in the flesh, and an infernal foe in the devil. The flesh is weak, the world is wicked, and the devil is woeful Discouragement...It is not unChristian or unspiritual or uncommon for people to be discouraged at times. Numbers 21:4 tells us that because the journey was difficult God’s people “were much discouraged because of the way.” 1 Samuel 30:6 says David “encouraged himself in the Lord.” Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer. This song needs correcting. You should never “stay” discouraged. 1. The Strength Available. “And let us not be weary...” Don’t be weary. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be despondent. How can this be possible? Because there is a strength that is available. Strength for every Task. Do you believe it?
- Noah - ark building that took 120 years.
- Nehemiah - wall building that took 52 days. Strength for every Trial.
- Paul - “My grace is sufficient for thee...” 2 Cor. 12:9.
- David - “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” John 15:5. “Without me ye can do nothing.”
Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 2. The Service Advocated. “...in well doing...” God has called us to “well doing,” not “doing well.” Mt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 3. The Season Appointed. “...for in due season...” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die...plant-pluck down...kill-heal...breakdown-buildup...weep-laugh...mourn-dance...cast away stones-gather stones together...embrace-refrain from embracing...get-lose...keep-castaway ..rend-sew...keep silent-speak...love-hate...war-peace.” - For Noah his due season was 120 yeas.
- For Moses his due season was 80 years.
- For Joseph his due season was 13 years. 4. The Success Anticipated. “...we shall reap...” Psalm 126:5-6 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” 5. The Staying Absolute. “...if we faint not.” As long as preachers preach, and teachers teach, and witnesses witness, and givers give...”We shall reap, if we faint not.” The word “faint” means “to loosen, to become relaxed.” W.E. Vines “like the unstringing of a bow.” The hunter is quitting. Pastor Ivan Downing. “I wear two hearing aids and tri-focal glasses; I have a partial plate and I sometimes walk with a cane. It seems to me that the Lord is telling me its’s time to retire.” “Reverend, you have misinterpreted what the Lord has been saying to you. He’s not telling you it’s time to retire; he’s telling you that if you keep going, he’ll keep you patched up.”
