“When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream.” – Psalm 126:1 (NASB)
The coronavirus quarantine is beginning to lift. We’re starting to enjoy the relaxation of some restraints we’ve been under. There’s still a long way to go, but thank God for the small steps!
From the destruction of Jerusalem (in 586 BC) to the dedication of the rebuilt temple (in 516 BC), the Jewish people had endured what historians call the Babylonian Captivity. For 70 years (see Jeremiah 25:9-12), they lived in a land not their own, under laws not of their making. The languages were strange and the religious beliefs were offensive, but the Jews bore their hardship. After the Persians had conquered the Babylonians, they permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and repair the walls of the city. The Persians also allowed them to reconstruct the ruined temple.
To return from captivity is something God’s people had dreamed of for decades. When the announcement went forth, it might have seemed imaginary. Like a dream. We adapt to the reality of restriction so well, we doubt the arrival of our freedom. But even in captivity, our hearts yearn for true freedom. Liberation, though dreamlike, isn’t foreign. Believers belong in Zion, not in Babylon.
How has the quarantine held you back or hindered you? What does the freedom that Jesus offers (see Galatians 5:1) look like for you?
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting; then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’” – Psalm 126:2 (NASB)
Freedom and restoration foster joy and laughter in our hearts which we can’t keep to ourselves. We express ourselves with songs, chuckles, and shouts. Our celebrations cause others to recognize the blessing of the Lord in our lives.
What’s the difference between rejoicing and bragging? How willing are you to rejoice with someone who’s been blessed (see Romans 12:15)? How likely are you to become jealous? What keeps you from jealousy?
“The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.” – Psalm 126:3 (NASB)
Throughout the quarantine, we discovered the presence of God in a unique way. With our routines suspended, we had to connect with the Lord in a deeper and more direct fashion. And in the midst of disruption and deprivation, we discovered the joy of the Lord. God’s blessings make us glad. Joy is not so much a gift as it is a response to a gift. The gift of Jesus who is the presence of God.
Where do you find your joy comes from? How can you become a more joyful person?
“Restore our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South.” – Psalm 126:4 (NASB)
Why does the psalmist pray for restoration from captivity? In the previous three verses, he’s been celebrating deliverance! His prayer makes no sense!
It makes perfect sense only if we think beyond ourselves. The psalmist enjoyed liberation, but many of his fellow Jews still waited. When we’re blessed, we must remember to pray for others. They need God’s restorative touch like the desert benefits from life-giving water.
What blessings has the Lord given you as the quarantine lifts? How do they make you feel about others and their situations? What can you do to bless people who are struggling?
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. 6He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” – Psalm 126:5-6 (NASB)
The psalmist bases his experience on the principle of sowing and reaping. Work leads to rewards; difficult labors result in plenty. In similar fashion, the pain of captivity yields to the God-given joy of freedom.
What kind of seeds have you been sowing during this time of quarantine? What are you expecting to harvest?
It won’t be long!
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