Psalm Devotional
Pray for Revival
Written by Kit Swartz. This devotional was first published in the November 2015 issue of The Reformed Presbyterian Witness.
Psalm 126 is the seventh in the 15 Songs of Ascents (120-134). The overall theme of the series is ascending to the temple in Jerusalem for the annual feasts (Exod. 23:14-17). Therefore, the Songs of Ascents are well suited to our praise as we ascend by the Spirit into the very presence of God in public worship (Heb. 12:22-24). The Songs of Ascents hint at this heavenly city as they often speak of Zion (v. 1).
The assembly of God’s people in public worship reminds us that, while we are saved as individuals, we are not saved alone but rejoice with the many who are the objects of God’s saving grace. Joy is the emotion that drives this psalm and makes it a common favorite. The tunes in The Book of Psalms for Worship are germane to the text.
Introduction
Confession (vv. 1-3) motivates and empowers petition (vv. 4-5) in this psalm, as it does in Psalms 123 and 125. This teaches us to pray in the same manner (Matt. 6:9-13). Our economy is unpredictable, but our God does not change (Ps. 125:1). Therefore, unlike our investments, with God past performance (vv. 1-3) is a guarantee of future returns (vv. 4-6). The returns in this psalm are quite literal. Two complementary ideas seemed to be involved in this petition: one, asking God to complete what He began (e.g., the building of the temple) and, two, asking God to do what He did before (e.g., exodus and return from exile; Jer. 16:14; Ps. 44:1-4).
Confession: Past Performance (vv. 1-3)
The Lord is the One who saves (v. 1); therefore He is the One who is petitioned (v. 4). The Hebrews loved word plays, and there is a familiar one in this psalm: “turn a turning.” The Lord turned out His people to Egypt and then turned back His people to Canaan; likewise He turned out to the wilderness and turned back to Canaan, and turned out to Babylon and turned back to Judah. You turn your T-shirt inside out to take it off and then turn it right-side out to put it on. Two insides out make an outside in! God’s purpose is His fatherly discipline, whether corrective, instructive, or beyond our discernment (Deut. 30:3; Job 42:10). The point of this psalm is that the Lord accomplishes His purposes in turning out His people and restores His children to a place of blessing.
These turnings back were almost too good to be true (dreaming, v. 1; Acts 12:9) and were so sudden and unexpected that God’s people burst into shouts of joy and peals of happy laughter (vv. 2-3, 5; Exod. 15). These turnings back were so extraordinary that the nations took notice (v. 2; Josh. 2:9) and the church simply confirmed their testimony (v. 3). This marvelous public display was in keeping with God’s purpose to show the world His salvation so that they also would know that He alone is God (Lev. 26:45; Ezek. 38:23; Isa. 49:6).
Petition: Future Returns (vv. 4-6)
Because the Lord has turned His people back to blessing many times, the psalmist asks for this in his present circumstances (vv. 1, 4; Ps. 80:3, 7, 19). What he is asking for is streams in the desert (v. 4; Ps. 107:35-38) and, thereby, to be turned from death to life and barrenness to fruitfulness (Ps. 107).
The last two verses (vv. 5-6) assure us that God turning us back to joy from His turning us out to sorrow is necessary and inevitable. He has appointed a time (Ps. 102:13) to turn our sorrow into joy and our mourning into dancing (Ps. 30:5, 11). “For the Lord will not reject forever, for if He causes grief, then He will have compassion according to His abundant lovingkindness” (Lam. 3:31-32). He may appoint a turning to suffering for a time, but He also appoints a turning back to joy (1 Pet. 5:10). If discipline is necessary, He will accomplish repentance by that means, but the point of this psalm is that—even if we are turned out because of our sin—God in His faithfulness will work repentance in us and turn us back to His blessing because of His grace. Just as surely as reaping follows sowing according to God’s promise (Gen. 8:22), so surely does being turned back to joy follow being turned out to sorrow (Job 42:10).
Therefore, pray for revival! Pray that God would turn you back to joy in your own soul, in your congregation, in your country, culture, and world.
