THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 18, 2014 - Day 126 - Psalm 126

Sometimes it is tears and sometimes it is laughter. Most of us will go through life experiencing both. The question we must ask ourselves as Christians is this, “What is it that brings us to cry and what is it that brings us to laugh?” Psalm 126 is a glimpse at both.

Psalm 126:1-4
A SONG OF ASCENTS. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!

There are many things in life that can hold us captive. Alcohol, drugs, sex and pornography, gambling, and even depression are just a few of the things that many of us have struggled with. When Jesus comes into our lives and sets us free from our chains to sin then our lives can finally taste the wonder of what true joy is. The world needs to see us rejoicing. The world needs to see us singing and laughing out of pure joy for the great things God has done for us.

But nothing comes in this world without a price.

Psalm 126:5
Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

When is the last time you wept? Do you weep as you pray for your lost children and family members? Does the brokenness of the world bring tears as you cry out in prayer for the unsaved of the world? Do you ever just fall down on your knees and wail out in tearful sobbing over your own sin and wonder how it grieves our heavenly Father when we fall back into old sinful ways?

Sin should break our hearts. But watch what the fruit of sowing in tears will be.

Psalm 126:6
He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

The tears we shed today are not going unnoticed by God.

Psalm 56:8
You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

God has our tears in a bottle. There will be a harvest my friends and though it may not be something you can see today, it is coming. When the final harvest comes in we shall sit at a great banquet and there will be laughter and joy. Until that day we must go out spreading the seed of Christ and at times we must weep as we do so. But we must also sing and laugh and let the world know the great things God has done for us. Christmas is one week away. What a great time to share the good news of the coming Messiah. So cry out to God in your times of prayer. Then go forth in laughter and joy singing merrily of the good news of Jesus for there is a great day of harvest coming. Read those last two verses again and believe them.

Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.