God Promises a Harvet of Joy

Psalms 126:1-6 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
 
JOY is a powerful force of worship. Remember it is listed as the second fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy… Joy is Jesus’ reaction to his disciples’ salvation: Luke 10:20 “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
   Four times Psalm 126, another psalm of ascents preparing people to worship, calls the congregation to go to worship with joy on their hearts. God has restored and saved them from exile! God has a future for them.
   No longer captives in Babylon, they looked upon their return to Judah as a dream come true. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Remember, Judah, you belong to God. Your prison is past. Your freedom is your future. God has done this. Sing with joy to his name. Dear Christian, have you put aside your past to joyfully live in God’s salvation?
   Also, be joyful, Israel, the nations know of God’s mercy and power to save. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” Many scriptures reveal that pagan rulers knew of God’s work to empower his people to victory. At times, it seems the Gentiles had more faith in God than the Jews. Does your life express joy in the great things God has done for you? When your life exhibits a joyful heart, especially in difficult circumstances, your joy will, indeed, be sweet fruit to reveal God’s salvation to the world.  
   Be joyful, too, Israel, because you know God’s firm promises for your future. Before and during the exile, prophets had spoken of God’s plans for Judah’s future. Many know Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We use this verse to encourage people through difficult times. And the verse is much more. God told Judah in their exile that he still had a remarkable future for them.
   The psalmist wanted the Jews to grasp God’s promises come true. He urged them to live and worship in joy because were re seeing the evidence God will restore our fortunes. This will be a bounteous future like streams in the Negev. It is a transformed future. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
   Put your grief behind you, Israel. Let the past be in the past and go forward with God. Joyfully know he has saved you for this moment to glorify his name.
   This exhortation comes to our hearts, too. Jesus has told us the joy of our salvation is celebrated in heaven. Do you celebrate it in your soul? God has brought you out of sin’s exile, so you can live into the promised future he has planned for you. What joy it is to trust completely in the eternal Savior. He is joyful your name is written in the book of life.