Returning to Zion, Restoring our Joy

Returning to our Joy (Zion)

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 126

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.

Context: The heart of the writer is for those in exile to be return to Zion.

What does it mean to be “Restored”?

To bring back to an original existence, function, or position.

They were transformed. Exile to Zion; sorrow to joy.

What exactly did it mean for the exiled to be restored? What were they wanting?

To be exact they wanted to return to the dwelling place of God

Zion a strongholdZion encompassed the whole, not just Jerusalem

Zion was the place where the temple was, the worship of God.

Zion was the source of their joy. They yearned for it and desired to be back in the place of the protection, the place of their fellowship, the place of their worship to the Lord.

CIT: They wanted to their “Joy” restored

During times of distress, times of uncertainty, times of pain we all yearn for something we yearn for our joy to be returned; for the things that caused us to be joyous to be experienced again.

Joy isn’t found but given. How does the Lord give joy?

Suddenly: Like the waterways of the Negev is like a dry desert that has been suddenly filled by a flood.

Over time: Like a farmer who plants seeds and waits for the seeds to grow

Five Transformations of the Restored Person

we were like those who dream.

Mind Transformation

2 Our mouths were filled with laughter then,

They are people of optimism (Like people who dream).

Its not a if but a when

and our tongues with shouts of joy.

It is the Lord who brings us back

Spirit Transformation

They are people who have been filled (set apart) by the Lord

Then they said among the nations,

They remember who they were, who they are supposed to be, and they yearn for that.

carrying the bag of seed,

These were saved people; you can’t come back to something you never were.

3 The Lord had done great things for us;

Heart Transformation

They are people who worship (rejoice)

we were joyful.

Its the Lord’s character to do great and benevolent things (past)

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,

They are confident in that he still hasn’t abandoned them

like watercourses in the Negev.

They know the Lord will restore them.

5 Those who sow in tears

Think about how the prophets of old new Jesus would come, so we should be as confident that God will restore His people.

Commitment Transformation

They are people who sowed faithful (in tears; weeping)

will reap with shouts of joy.

Despite being in hardship they never stop seeking God; they never abandoned their faith. (carried the bag of seed)

6 Though one goes along weeping,

Despite being in hardship they never stop proclaiming God (seed)

carrying the bag of seed,

Possession Transformation

he will surely come back with shouts of joy,

They come back with something

carrying his sheaves. 1

They reaped (h:kasaar) harvest from experienced. They had a testimony. Suffering to grace.

You brought something (sheeves) back with you; the people you proclaimed the gospel to during this time.

The Key to Joy in your life is transformation

20 Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. 22 So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you. ()

Transformation is when you leave a mental, spiritual, worship, commitment, possession exile and yearn for a mental, spiritual, worship, commitment, possession Zion. This person will not find Joy but it will be given to them.

Transformation happens when you are a person who comes back to the Lord and that person is a joyous person.

1 Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

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