“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” -Psalm 126.
Have you ever considered the marvelous breakthroughs the Lord often times brings our way? It's a wonder that many people don't die just from the shock of going from extreme despair to extreme joy so suddenly! Yet God will often work this way, and He shows us to wait patiently for Him with hope (Hebrews 10:35,36).
We can remember the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, and the desolation he endured after being sold by his own brothers into slavery & imprisonment, which lasted for 13 YEARS of his life; yet in just ONE DAY he was transformed from prisoner into prince by the mercy of God!
Jeremiah was greatly persecuted & imprisoned by his own people over a 40 year span, but when the enemy came to judge Israel for their sins, Jeremiah was set on high, and rewarded.
“And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go...or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.” -From Jeremiah 40:4&5.
Yet God is always the same (Hebrews 13:8), hallelujah, and even just recently my wife & I went through a day's beginning with heavy hearts for the grief which threatened us; but the day's end found us saturated in joy, due to the change of circumstances the Lord had brought our way. It was a time to experience the joyful truth of this Psalm 126, and to know firsthand that we do not hope in vain.
But it wouldn't be right for me to only look at obvious joyful triumphs, when there are other times it may not seem to be so, and the Bible addresses these times also. The Apostle Paul wrote that he'd learned to be content in his circumstances, whether he was flourishing or just getting by. Jesus promised that as we served God first in all things, that He would provide what we really need in any situation; Paul experienced these truths at work, and trusted God at His Word.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” -Philippians 4:11-13.
“And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” -Luke 12:29-32.
Luke 16 provides us with another example of what may at first seem to be LESS than a triumph. Jesus gives us the story of a rich man and the beggar LAZARUS in verses 19-31, but Lazarus died in his pitiful state on earth, without any recorded evidence of a physical breakthrough. As Christians, we ought to be aware of the eternal truth here which many do not see; that it will not benefit anyone to prosper materially in this world, and the fate of one's soul is of infinitely greater value (Matthew16:26).
Abraham recounts for the deceased rich man a rather frustrating and inconvenient outlook in Luke 16:25 when he tells him; “... Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
Jesus had also admonished us of the same truths in the beatitudes, when He said;
“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God...But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.” -Luke 6:20,24. Remember also that we cannot serve God and mammon (money, or material riches; Luke 16:13).
To look a bit deeper into the Lazarus story is to find that God took him from an ongoing, but temporary life of suffering, and in its place gave to him everlasting joy in Heaven (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)! It was the plan God had for Lazarus, and he will never suffer again.
In the end, the Lord has PROMISED that He will never leave us, nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5,6); and when His deliverance at last appears, how glorious it will be! This will make all of the tears we've shed in watering that precious seed spoken of in the opening scripture worthwhile.
Remember, brethren, the promises of God in scripture; that same God who sacrificed His Son for our salvation (Romans 8:32). He says that we are saved by hope, which cannot be seen, but neither can it be taken away from us, praise the Lord!( I Corinthians 13:13). Wait confidently upon God to turn around the circumstances at hand in your life, for His answer is closer than you know.
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” -Romans 8:24,25.
“The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” -Lamentations 3:25,26.“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” -Psalm 126.
Have you ever considered the marvelous breakthroughs the Lord often times brings our way? It's a wonder that many people don't die just from the shock of going from extreme despair to extreme joy so suddenly! Yet God will often work this way, and He shows us to wait patiently for Him with hope (Hebrews 10:35,36).
We can remember the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, and the desolation he endured after being sold by his own brothers into slavery & imprisonment, which lasted for 13 YEARS of his life; yet in just ONE DAY he was transformed from prisoner into prince by the mercy of God!
Jeremiah was greatly persecuted & imprisoned by his own people over a 40 year span, but when the enemy came to judge Israel for their sins, Jeremiah was set on high, and rewarded.
“And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go...or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.” -From Jeremiah 40:4&5.
Yet God is always the same (Hebrews 13:8), hallelujah, and even just recently my wife & I went through a day's beginning with heavy hearts for the grief which threatened us; but the day's end found us saturated in joy, due to the change of circumstances the Lord had brought our way. It was a time to experience the joyful truth of this Psalm 126, and to know firsthand that we do not hope in vain.
But it wouldn't be right for me to only look at obvious joyful triumphs, when there are other times it may not seem to be so, and the Bible addresses these times also. The Apostle Paul wrote that he'd learned to be content in his circumstances, whether he was flourishing or just getting by. Jesus promised that as we served God first in all things, that He would provide what we really need in any situation; Paul experienced these truths at work, and trusted God at His Word.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” -Philippians 4:11-13.
“And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” -Luke 12:29-32.
Luke 16 provides us with another example of what may at first seem to be LESS than a triumph. Jesus gives us the story of a rich man and the beggar LAZARUS in verses 19-31, but Lazarus died in his pitiful state on earth, without any recorded evidence of a physical breakthrough. As Christians, we ought to be aware of the eternal truth here which many do not see; that it will not benefit anyone to prosper materially in this world, and the fate of one's soul is of infinitely greater value (Matthew16:26).
Abraham recounts for the deceased rich man a rather frustrating and inconvenient outlook in Luke 16:25 when he tells him; “... Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
Jesus had also admonished us of the same truths in the beatitudes, when He said;
“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God...But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.” -Luke 6:20,24. Remember also that we cannot serve God and mammon (money, or material riches; Luke 16:13).
To look a bit deeper into the Lazarus story is to find that God took him from an ongoing, but temporary life of suffering, and in its place gave to him everlasting joy in Heaven (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)! It was the plan God had for Lazarus, and he will never suffer again.
In the end, the Lord has PROMISED that He will never leave us, nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5,6); and when His deliverance at last appears, how glorious it will be! This will make all of the tears we've shed in watering that precious seed spoken of in the opening scripture worthwhile.
Remember, brethren, the promises of God in scripture; that same God who sacrificed His Son for our salvation (Romans 8:32). He says that we are saved by hope, which cannot be seen, but neither can it be taken away from us, praise the Lord!( I Corinthians 13:13). Wait confidently upon God to turn around the circumstances at hand in your life, for His answer is closer than you know.
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” -Romans 8:24,25.
“The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” -Lamentations 3:25,26.
You may also be interested in the YouTube video I posted on this subject at https://youtu.be/lYIIW8oU8gY.
