Psalm 126
BSB
Zion’s Captives Restored
A song of ascents.
1When the LORD restored the captives of Zion,
we were like dreamers.
2Then our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with shouts of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3The LORD has done great things for us;
we are filled with joy.
4Restore our captives, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.
5Those who sow in tears
will reap with shouts of joy.
6He who goes out weeping,
bearing a trail of seed,
will surely return with shouts of joy,
carrying sheaves of grain.
Introduction
Psalms 126
It was with reference to some great and surprising deliverance of the people of God out of bondage and distress that this psalm was penned, most likely their return out of Babylon in Ezra's time. Though Babylon be not mentioned here (as it is, Psa 137:1-9) yet their captivity there was the most remarkable captivity both in itself and as their return out of it was typical of our redemption by Christ. Probably this psalm was penned by Ezra, or some of the prophets that came up with the first. We read of singers of the children of Asaph, that famous psalmist, who returned then, Ezr 2:41. It being a song of ascents, in which the same things are twice repeated with advancement (Psa 126:2, Psa 126:3, and Psa 126:4, Psa 126:5), it is put here among the rest of the psalms that bear that title. I. Those that had returned out of captivity are here called upon to be thankful (Psa 126:1-3). II. Those that were yet remaining in captivity are here prayed for (Psa 126:4) and encouraged (Psa 126:5, Psa 126:6). It will be easy, in singing this psalm, to apply it either to any particular deliverance wrought for the church or our own land or to the great work of our salvation by Christ.
A song of degrees.
Cross-references: Ps 137:1 · Ezra 2:41 · Ps 126:2 · Ps 126:3 · Ps 126:4 · Ps 126:5 · Ps 126:1 · Ps 126:6