Photo ©2015 Amanda Gross This Psalm refers to a time when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, a dream that they had for a long time. Imagine waiting many years for a time when they could return to their beloved city. When they were told they could return they rejoiced, they sang, they danced. Their songs were songs of joy. They praised God for the great things He had done for them.
Now the dream was for a restoration of the fortunes of old. It was a time of jubilation after a time of great sadness (Psalm 137).
The psalmist prayed the Lord would complete the restoration. He compared the returning exiles to the streams in the Negev. During the dry season the Negev would have had little or no water but in the rainy sea-son would have had so much water the banks would overflow.
Under God's "showers of blessing" the highways from the east would be full of returning captives.
The setting in verses 5-6 is agricultural. After the land had been neglected for so long it was almost impossible to work. The planting would be difficult, but with hard work it would bring a harvest. The sowing in tears would signify anything someone did to help advance God's kingdom and would encourage people to respond to the Lord and rebuild the kingdom.
God would supply the needs of the people. The land would prosper. The people would rejoice as they carried the sheaves of grain to the storehouse. They would sing songs of joy.
The faithfulness of the people would be there in every generation. There would be good times and bad ones, but God would watch over His people. Down through the centuries this has still happened. People have walked in sadness, but there has always been a time when the future seemed like a dream and the people rejoiced and danced, sang songs of joy and thanked God for the blessings He has given. There have been times as dry as a river in the Negev and there have been times of a river overflowing.
There will be the faithful who serve God in the good times and in the hard times, but God is always faithful to keep his promises.
- Don Maughan
Now the dream was for a restoration of the fortunes of old. It was a time of jubilation after a time of great sadness (Psalm 137).
The psalmist prayed the Lord would complete the restoration. He compared the returning exiles to the streams in the Negev. During the dry season the Negev would have had little or no water but in the rainy sea-son would have had so much water the banks would overflow.
Under God's "showers of blessing" the highways from the east would be full of returning captives.
The setting in verses 5-6 is agricultural. After the land had been neglected for so long it was almost impossible to work. The planting would be difficult, but with hard work it would bring a harvest. The sowing in tears would signify anything someone did to help advance God's kingdom and would encourage people to respond to the Lord and rebuild the kingdom.
God would supply the needs of the people. The land would prosper. The people would rejoice as they carried the sheaves of grain to the storehouse. They would sing songs of joy.
The faithfulness of the people would be there in every generation. There would be good times and bad ones, but God would watch over His people. Down through the centuries this has still happened. People have walked in sadness, but there has always been a time when the future seemed like a dream and the people rejoiced and danced, sang songs of joy and thanked God for the blessings He has given. There have been times as dry as a river in the Negev and there have been times of a river overflowing.
There will be the faithful who serve God in the good times and in the hard times, but God is always faithful to keep his promises.
- Don Maughan
Today pray for:
Newmarket Community Church and their pastor Patty Marsden
First Baptist Church, Newport and their pastor Steve Hammond
ABC/VNH Department of Professional Ministry
Newmarket Community Church and their pastor Patty Marsden
First Baptist Church, Newport and their pastor Steve Hammond
ABC/VNH Department of Professional Ministry
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