Text: Psalm 126 -- A song of Ascents.
Subject: How Can I Have Joy While Weeping?
Complement: Because Of Past Victories!
Big Idea: The Past Provides Joy for Today And bright Hope For tomorrow.
Preaching Idea: “We Are Filled With Joy.”
Introduction:
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room… an elephant so big—none of us can stop it… an elephant so methodical, we cannot even slow it down… and elephant that even God himself has made no promises to remove from human experience. You could fast and pray for 40 days and 40 nights and it won’t make any difference. Even though this elephant does serious damage to all of us…to our families and loved ones. This elephant casts a shadow over every decision we make. This elephant is expensive and relentless. This elephant cannot be conquered; it can only be embraced. It is why we take pictures. It is why we mark birthdays and anniversaries. It is why we take vacation. It is why we spend/”waste” money on boats and motorcycles and a thousand other hobbies and distractions. It is why we write poetry. It is why we come to camp. It is why we give money to the work of God. Like all elephants, this elephant is huge… maybe this elephant is the biggest of all.
What could it be?
This elephant is called “Aging.”
You …are getting old.
I …am getting older.
Are you aging well?
In July I visited NFLD… went up to an island in a bay called Placentia Bay. On this island my mom was born and raised. My grandparents built a home there. The community is now abandoned. Populated only with cottages where people go to get away from the hustle and bustle of rural Newfoundland. I brought home a piece of wood from the homestead and another piece from the school house where mom learned to read.
On that same vacation I made a trip up the coast of conception bay north to a little fishing village called Grates Cove. Its surrounded by the ocean on three sides. Not a single tree to be seen. The salt air and the rocky terrain makes tree growing impossible. My dad now 81, served as tour guide. He pointed out an outcropping of rock, protruding into the north Atlantic. There, right there. That’s where your great grandfather built his house. I jumped out of the car and scanned the site. Found the remains of the foundation—made of flatrock. I retrieved a sample and brought it home.
Life is too short…. It’s beautiful. Mysterious. filled with wonder.
But we are aging.
How do we age well?
How do we face the 2nd half
or the third period of our lives?
Is it the ninth inning…..Are we in extra innings?
Growing old isn’t for cowards – it requires courage.
We are all pilgrims…. On the journey of life…
Life is Road trip…
Sometimes Pilgrims get tired … bored… or anxious to get there….”are we there yet”?
Can we stop for ice cream?
Mom looks into the backseat of the mini-van and says…
“Read a book…occupy yourself with a book and the journey will go faster.”
Let me share with you a “pilgrim psalm”. ( “a road trip psalm”)
Part A: Laughter.
1 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.
Situation: 70 years of exile …. Now…are finally over…
70 year captivity… Babylon. (597 1st deportation)
In the year 586 BC, the 4th month (April) , the 9th day, a breach was made in the city (Jeremiah 39:1,2), and the final assault began. King Zedekiah and his men fled from the city by night "by the way of the king's garden, through the gate betwixt the two walls," and made eastward to Arabah. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They took him prisoner and brought him to Nebuchadrezzar at Riblah, where the king of Babylon first slew the son of Zedekiah, and then put out his eyes.
With the sons of the captured monarch were slain all the nobles of Judah. This time neither city nor temple nor palace was spared. Nebuzaradan "burnt the house of Yahweh, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire" (2 Kings 25:9).
2 kings 25:9-…13..16…
His soldiers, too, broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about. The treasure and the costly furnishings of the Temple, in so far as they had escaped the former spoliation, were carried away to Babylon. The ruin of Jerusalem was complete. The Book of Lamentations utters the grief and shame and penitence of an eyewitness of the captures and desolation of the Holy City:
1 How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!
How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations!
She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.
2 Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are upon her cheeks.
Among all her lovers there is none to comfort her.
All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.
3 After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile.
She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place.
All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.
4 The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed feasts.
All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan,
her maidens grieve, and she is in bitter anguish.
5 Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease.
The LORD has brought her grief because of her many sins.
Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.
Crisis!!!
Law, land and temple all gone
Where is God?
o Babylon becomes metaphor for enemy/threat/evil.
o Exile cats a shadow over much of the OT – esp the prophets.
Ministry of Ezekiel, 592-570 BC:
Among the captives thus carried to Babylon and placed on the banks of the Chebar was the priest-prophet Ezekiel. Five years after the captivity he began to have his wonderful "visions" of God, and to declare their import to the exiles by the rivers of Babylon. To the desponding captives who were engrossed with thoughts of the kingdom of Judah, not yet dissolved, and of the Holy City, not yet burned up with fire, Ezekiel could only proclaim by symbol and allegory the destruction of city and nation, till the day when the distressing tidings reached them of its complete overthrow. Then to the crushed and despairing captives he utters no lamentations like those of Jeremiah, but rather joyful predictions of a rebuilt city, of a reconstituted kingdom, and of a renovated and glorious temple.
Then…Freedom--- Let’s go home!!!
Prophets of the exile…
Ezekiel… Ch 37
Valley of dry bones… can these bones live?
Prophesy to these bones, Ezekiel!
The journey was filled with laughter and singing…and praise to God.
What songs did they sing?
• Great is thy faithfulness?
• Amazing Grace?
• He keeps me singing…
• In my heart their rings a melody
• O Happy Day?
• O Say but I’m glad, I’m glad
Celebration---Laughter.
o Hallelujah!!!
Now, every year, as Jews pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feasts…they sing these songs!
Singing is the music of the soul. Singing expresses faith and the journey we’re on. Singing creates community
Remember the 1972 Canada/Russia hockey series… down 3 games to 1…with 1 tie… next 3 games in Russia…
It impossible it seemed. The team looked beaten, tired; Out of shape and over-matched.
o Then the thrilling miracle.
o Paul Henderson; 34 seconds left in the final game!
o Foster Hewitt calls it in his sharp, high pitched, unmistakable voice.
o Celebration
o Laughter…
o Singing
o Dancing
May I share a story of a miracle…
His name is Bob Brozina.
we met at the local Chamber of Commerce - and a fellow Biker
o Chit chat
o Road trip
o I'm interested says Bob
One night at 3 am…in Gros Morne National Park in Rocky Harbor, Nfld.his phone rings.
o a grand Baby is born but is in crisis
o Pray…pray…pray…
A Miracle happens - the baby lives and is completely healthy
o Rejoice! Celebrate!
o
I was filled with joy!!!
o Bob is filled with joy.
o Baby Joshua is alive and well.
“The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with Joy”
another story, “Mr. Jones” calls the church
o Crisis…marriage trouble
o Pray
o Bible discussion
o Repent
o freedom
o His family is filled with joy
“The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with Joy”
Another story...Jason …. Rick and Jill ….
o Broken marriage of his daughter
o Suicide
o Funeral
o Re-birth
“I was so filled with hate”…now I’m filled with joy and love.
“The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with Joy”
Pause… hallelujah!
It’s the stuff of singing…10,000 reasons for my heart to sing!!!
These stories keep us moving forward on this road trip… pilgrims, need a pilgrim song!
Then the turn… second stanza… (home is needing work…re-build--life is tough---floods of Alberta…}
Part B: Tears
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.
The journey isn’t over… the road trip isn’t complete… we have miles still to travel.
Irving W. story… cancer…. Hospital… plenty of tears over the past year.
Other stories of tears are many --- here in this room.
Such tears require encouragement. Tears need to know they are not wasted. Tears need to be respected and shared.
And so the victory of the Babylonian captivity becomes fuel for todays struggle. Praise and laughter and now coupled with tears and prayers. Notice the tears do not replace the laughter – it makes the laughter more meaningful. The psalmist writes we are filled with joy!
We remember… and we have joy. We face today’s adversity and we are filled with joy.
Is this over-stating the case?
Joy? Do you mean it, preacher?
Perhaps the psalmist is being too idealistic?
No.
Let’s check our sources… (scripture interprets scripture)
“Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds.”---James 1:2
“Rejoice in the Lord, always. I will say it again. Rejoice.” (phil 4:4)
Is not the fruit of the Spirit, joy??? It is not the fruit of our circumstances? It is the fruit of the Spirit!!! You can’t self create this joy--- it’s a work of grace in your life!!! ***Joy is a gift from God which we receive and celebrate.
“Ee are filled with joy” --- sometimes??? No. Always.
What is keeping you from this joy? What tears are you sowing today?
Here is something to pray for as your journey…
Millennials… leaving church.
o Your children and grand children.
o What to do?
(1) pray For restoring
Like a dry riverbed…in the Negev dessert…when it begins to rain…watch out!!!
(2) shed some tears ----care deeply
(3) believe… “will return with songs of joy”!!!!
(4) find strength in past answers
(5) This is where “aging” starts to work for you---not against you!!! You have history…you have memories…you have knowledge of God. He did it before; he will do it again!
{Irving... we met to talk about his illness….I said to him….”you have a deep well” … draw some water for your thirsty soul.
Getting older means a few aches and pains--- but it means memories of the goodness of God. When everything else failed; God was faithful.
Getting older means heart attacks and strokes and becoming widowed…yes; but it also means you know the Word of God and you know God; you know how to pray; you know how to worship; you know God is still God. You are not easily tossed about by waves and storms; and even when a tsunami washes over you—you still know how to float and your know where to find the life preserver.
Getting older means your golf score declines; you take the power cart and you might play 9 holes instead of 18; but it also means your closer to heaven; closer to the streets of gold; closer to being united with loved ones; closer to seeing the face of Jesus
Job had a tough season in his life… Many of you have had a “Job season…” Did you read the end of the story? Do you remember how Job’s life ended? God restored him - He lived to see his children’s children to the 4th generation!!!
Paul said it this way… “16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Sow… sow your tears…tears are to God like seed is to a farmer.
Tears produce something. They are not wasted tears. Tears produce victory…tears produce a bumper crop. Tears always produce wheat. Tears are never trivial in the one who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.
Need proof? May I refer you to Revelation 5:8 … “golden bowls full of incense—which are the prayers of the saints.
Application: on this road trip…
Tell stories
Sing songs
Laugh together
Share your hopes and dreams; fears and tears.
Conclusion: “The Lord has done great things for us – and we are filled with joy.”
