As with many of the Psalms, there is both an immediate and prophetic application. Psalm 126 is a prayer for the return and restoration from the Babylonian exile but applies to any situation in which Israel is under pressure from foreign powers. The last two verses of this psalm are the key-verses of this study, and the last two phrases in particular are wonderfully prophetic in a three-fold sense:
- First, they are prophetic of Israel’s history. The words have already received a large measure of fulfilment, and today Jews everywhere are passing through the time of tears and weeping. Soon their time of weeping will pass, and they will “return with songs of joy.”
- Second, they are prophetic of our Lord’s ministry. Meditate on the separate phrases in 6 and compare the following: Psalm 40:7; Luke 9:51; 19:41; John 11:25 and Hebrews 5:7; John 12:24; 14:3; Jude 14.
- Third, these words are prophetic, or descriptive of Christian workers.
Psalm 126:5: “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!”
- Grammatical Usage: “Those who sow” in Hebrew is, “haz·zō·rə·‘îm” meaning, “possess; impart”; “in tears” or “bə·ḏim·‘āh,” means, “compassionately”; “of joy” or “bə·rin·nāh” means, “triumph”.
- Literal Interpretation: Those who have the seed and share in compassion will gather with shouts of triumph.
- Contextual/Comparison: God keeps His Word: God continually uses His Word. There is a three-fold contrast: (1) going out and coming in again; (2) weeping and rejoicing; (3) carrying seed and carrying sheaves. Let us look at the description of the Christian worker in 6:
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- The Christian Worker is one who GOES OUT
In Mark 16:15, we read the Great Commission that is binding upon every Christian.
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- Note the word “GO”. This implies activity; movement. The important part of Christian service is the actual doing of it. This was the reason for the marvelous success of the labors of the apostles – “they went out…” (Mark 16:20). Are you “going” (Matthew 28:19)?
- Note the word “OUT”. This implies leaving one place and going to another. It could mean leaving home and going abroad. It certainly means that if we are to be used of the Lord we must go where He sends us, to where lost sinners are waiting to be saved – and many of them are waiting! We need to be stirred out of the rut of ease, selfishness and complacency, to go out in the name of the Lord. Are we in line with Acts 8:4?
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- The Christian Worker needs to have a PASSION FOR SOULS
“He who goes out weeping…” It is not enough to go – we must have compassion for the souls of men; to be imbued with this heavenly concern for the lost; and once we are really concerned our tears will flow. If we would labor in prayer, we should soon have the joy of bringing forth children and seeing people born into God’s family (Matthew 9:36) and compare Jeremiah 9:1; Acts 20:19.
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- The Christian Worker is one who SOWS SEED
All true Christian service consists of seed sowing – taking a Sunday School class, distributing tracts, preaching, visiting the sick, writing a note, a social media post, a private word, taking someone out for coffee – implementing Luke 8:11.
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- This seed is precious (Psalm 126:6 (KJV); 2 Peter 1:4). There is none like it; it is life-giving (John 6:63).
- This seed is powerful (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12). It can turn sinners into saints (Psalm 19:7).
- This seed is productive (Daniel 12:3). It brings forth an ever-lasting harvest.
But the seed must be sown! Seed in the basket will never produce a harvest. It is not the truth we know but the truth we sow that bears fruit – and we shall reap what we sow! Sow wheat, and there will be a harvest of wheat; sow truth, and there will be a glorious harvest; sow error, and there will be a harvest of shame (Galatians 6:7).
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- The Christian Worker has A GREAT ASSURANCE
He knows that “he will return with songs of joy.” There may be much toil and many tears now, but the harvest is assured. There are two victory promises in which the Christian Worker can rejoice: Isaiah 55:11; 1 Corinthians 15:58.
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- The Christian Worker will know the JOY OF HARVEST
Both vv. 5-6 reference “songs of joy” (compare Luke 15:5-6; 9-10; 22-24). There is joy to be experienced by the soul-winner now (John 4:36), and there will be great joy in that day when we are all gathered into the presence of the Lord (Matthew 25:21). Is there any joy like the joy of winning a soul to Christ? And if the joy is great now, what will it be then, when we see those who we have won in the presence of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 2:19)?
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- The successful Christian Worker will NOT BE EMPTY-HANDED in the day of harvest.
The successful worker will bring his sheaves with him! How very sad to be unsuccessful, to go to Heaven without ever having tried to sow or reap, appearing empty-handed!
- Conclusion: As the Lord engineers the opportunity, will I be a faithful witness?
