12-17-23 3rd Sunday of Advent Sermon "Joy" - 16 Minutes

Psalm 126

This morning I'll be reading Psalm 126,,, and I'll read all 6 verses. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Psalm 126 This psalm,,, like Psalm 123 that we looked at earlier,,, back on November,,, the 19th,,, is one of the group of psalms called "ascent psalms". Probably written during their exile in Babylon. Psalm 126 (HCSB) A song of ascents. 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter then, and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful. 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like watercourses in the Negev. 5 Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. 6 Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday was the 2nd Sunday of Advent,,, and the candle of peace was lit. We also looked at Isaiah 40:1-11,,, and I told you,,, the main point that I wanted us to remember going forward,,, is that even though Israel has sinned and turned away from God,,, and that,,, sin,,, led to the punishment that they have been through,,, the fact is,,, God is now giving them words of encouragement,,, words of comfort,,, since they have repented of that sin! And they can believe these words because,,, it said in verse 8: 8 The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.” So we know that God's word is true today,,, just as it was for them at that time! And no matter what we have done wrong in the past,,, God will forgive us as well! Also,,, there will always be wars,,, and rumors of wars,,, until Jesus returns to set things right in this world that has been ruined by sin! So we need to remember these words of comfort as we look forward to our day set aside to celebrate Jesus' birth,,, and to His second coming as well! The events going on around the world,,, the war in Israel,,, Ukraine,,, the shootings we keep experiencing in this country,,, the threat of violence,,, etc.… These are events that we need to be aware of,,, yes for sure,,, but we don't need to let them take our eyes and minds off of our duty that we still have to the world,,, and that's spreading the good news,,, of Jesus Christ,,, especially during the Christmas season! We don't need to stick our heads in the sand,,, and lose sight of the fact,,, that God is in control,,, even though it may not look like it to us at the time! We,,, as Christians today,,, need to take comfort in these words today,,, and remember as we look at the birth of Christ,,, that this set in place the glorious chance for us to be restored to the relationship with God that sin had ruined,,, but God's word were true,,, and they never changed,,, and we can see the fulfillment of them today,,, and that lets us know that the words that He is coming back again,,, are true as well! So,,, lets celebrate His birth,,, because we know that God's words of comfort were true then,,, and they are just as true,,, for us,,, today! That's why,,, that we have that "peace" today,,, that we always look to,,, the 2nd Sunday of Advent! This morning we will look at these verses in Psalm 126 and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week. ___________________________________ Verse 1 said: 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. When the announcement had reached the Jewish communities in exile,,, the people just couldn't believe what they were hearing.

The Persian King Cyrus had stated that the captives could return to their land.

And it seemed,,, almost too good to be true.

During the long years in exile,,, many of them had wondered if they would ever see Jerusalem again.

But now at last the news had come.

As they gathered their few pitiful belongings together,,, they were like people walking around in a trance. ___________________________________ Verses 2-3 said: 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter then, and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful.

The excitement throughout the Israelite community was contagious,,, unbelievable,,, but true!

For the first time in about seventy years,,, they had something to bring joy to their hearts.

They were filled with laughter.

They were going home.

As their preparations moved into high gear,,, they

laughed and sang,,,—,,,, something that was new for them.

Something that they probably hadn't done in a long time.

This was a tremendous testimony to the non-Jewish people.

They seemed to sense that things happened for the Jews,,, that could not be explained,,, on the natural level.

They acknowledged,,, that the God of the Hebrews,,, had intervened for them,,, in miraculous ways.

Above the other nations of the earth,,, Israel appeared to be the special object of God's love and care.

And the grateful exiles,,, joyfully concurred with the Gentiles,,, in attributing their deliverance,,, to the Lord alone.

___________________________________ Verse 4 said: 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like watercourses in the Negev.

But they were going back to the land as a pathetic remnant,,, with little more than the clothes they had on their backs.

They needed manpower,,, financial help,,, and protection.

All of this,,, accounts for their prayer: 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like watercourses in the Negev.

The Negev was the desert in the south.

Ordinarily it was arid and barren.

But after heavy rains,,, the dry waterbeds became torrential streams that made the wilderness blossom.

So the returning exiles pray that what is now only a trickle of people,,, may become a multitude,,, until all twelve tribes have been brought back.

They pray that the Lord will provide them the means to rebuild and restore.

And they ask for everything else that would be needed to make them a happy,,, fruitful people,,, in the land.

___________________________________ Verses 5-6 said: 5 Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. 6 Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves.

The first year after their return would be especially difficult.

There would be no crops to harvest right away.

They would have to make a fresh start by planting their crops and waiting for harvest time.

It would be a time of hardship,,, being sure that they use the small amount of food as sparingly as possible.

There would be a certain sorrow,,, or frustration,,, about sowing the seed for that first crop.

Here is a farmer,,, whose grain bin is low.

He can use the grain,,, to feed his family now,,, or he can sow most of it,,, in the hope of an abundant supply in the days to come.

He decides to sow it,,, but as he dips his hand into his apron and scatters the seed over the plowed land,,, his tears fall into the apron.

He is thinking of his wife and children,,, of the skimpy bowls of porridge,,, of how little they will have to live on until the days of harvest.

He feels,,, as if he is taking food out of their mouths.

But a cheering word goes out to the returned exiles:

5 Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. 6 Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves.

So they go forth,,, and sow the seed.

Their present heartache will be more than compensated,,, by the joy,,, of bringing their sheaves of ripened grain to the barn.

Another commentary said,,, after the land had been neglected for so long,,, it was almost impossible to work it.

The planting would be difficult,,, but persistence would doubtless bring a harvest.

The sowing with tears,,, would signify anything someone did to help advance God’s rule,,, (for example,,, encouraging people to respond to the Lord and return to the land).

The joyful harvesting (reap) would then refer to other people who returned to the land in faith.

The author of this psalm,,, was convinced that continued labor,,, no matter how agonizingly difficult and frustrating,,, would result in more people returning to the land of Israel.

The metaphors of sowing and harvesting have been widely used by believers (cf. Gal. 6:7).

Jesus spoke of sowing as spreading the message of the kingdom,,, and spoke of the harvest,,, as people who received Him by faith (Matt. 13:1–8, 18, 23).

And that's what we need to be mindful of today,,, as we continue our journey,,, into this new direction,,, that God is leading us!

___________________________________ We can see from these scriptures that the Israelites are going through some difficult times,,, but they are assured that God is taking care of them and their harvest will be fulfilled!

There are going to be times,,, and you may be in one of those times,,, where we must make sacrifices to accomplish the goal that God intends for us to complete!

If you are in one of those times,,, you can see from this psalm that God will get you through it,,, you just need to trust Him!

For the rest of us that may not be having a time of trial,,, we can be prepared in advance,,, since we should be able to remember these words of comfort.

That's how we,,, as Christians,,, can truly experience "joy",,, no matter what we are experiencing!

As Christians,,, we know that God is faithful,,, and He will take care of us,,, in spite of our failures,,, and that gives us true "joy" at all times,,, the good times,,, and,,, the bad times!

___________________________________ The world tries to make us believe that we aren't happy unless we have this,,, or we buy this,,, and it's no different during the Christmas season!

If anything,,, it's worse!

But since we are Christians,,, we know,,, or should know,,, what is truly needed to make us joyful,,, and that's Jesus Christ!

And we can be joyful,,, no matter our circumstances.

That doesn't mean that we enjoy what we might be struggling with at the time,,, but it just means that we have faith in the One that we know is in control,,, and that His ways,,, are best!

So,,, this next week,,, remember to spread the "good news" of Jesus Christ,,, and tell others about the "joy" that we have in our hearts because of His love for us,,, and,,, that His love is available for them as well!

It's that type of love,,, that brings "joy",,, to all,,, and that type of "joy",,, that is needed,,, each and every Christmas season!

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------