Song of Joy (Psalm 126)
Steve McKenzie October 25, 2020

October 25, 2020

Psalm 126

 

BIG IDEA:

The weak and tired can sing a song of joy in any circumstance of need by looking back at God’s past faithfulness and looking forward with hope in God’s future promises.

 

REMEMBER OUR JOY IN GOD’S PAST FAITHFULNESS (1-3)

  • Past Tense: “When the Lord restored… we were like… then” (1-3)

  • God’s Faithfulness to Israel (Exodus 5-15)
  • God’s Faithfulness to King David (Author of this Psalm)
  • God’s Faithfulness to Us

“We nurture these memories of laughter, these shouts of joy. We fill our minds with the stories of God’s acts. Joy has a history. Joy is the verified, repeated experience of those involved in what God is doing. It is as real as a date in history, as solid as a stratum of rock in Palestine. Joy is nurtured by living in such a history, building on such a foundation.” – Eugene Peterson

 

ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PRESENT NEED (4)

  • “Restore our fortunes, O Lord”
  • 1) We have need – feels like we dwell in the barrenness of the Negev Desert
  • 2) God is Our Help & Restores Us – like fresh streams in our dry spirit

 

TRUST IN GOD’S FUTURE PROMISES (5-6)

  • Streams in the Desert (4)
  • Sow in Sorrow, Harvest with Joy (5-6)
“One of the most interesting and remarkable things Christians learn is that laughter does not exclude weeping. Christian joy is not an escape from sorrow. Pain and hardship still come, but they are unable to drive out the joy of the redeemed.A common but futile strategy for achieving joy is trying to eliminate things that hurt: get rid of pain by numbing the nerve ends, get rid of insecurity by eliminating risks, get rid of disappointment by depersonalizing your relationships. And then try to lighten the boredom of such a life by buying joy in the form of vacations and entertainment. There isn’t a hint of that inPsalm 126.”- Eugene Peterson

 

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