Observation: Psalm 126 begins, "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then we were like those who dream." It probably is referring to the time in Israel's history when the Babylonian Empire, which had sent most of Jerusalem's population into exile, was conquered by the Persians, who allowed Jerusalemites to return. Even after a whole generation of exile, eventually God restores the fortunes of Zion. The psalmist's point seems to be, "If God can bring us back from that, God can bring us back from anything."
Application: It strikes me more and more as I read the Hebrew Bible, that the overarching theme is covenant relationship. From Adam and Eve, to Abraham, to Moses, to the Promised Land, into exile and back again, God is not always happy with God's people, but God will never forsake their relationship. There will be some tough times--getting carted off into a foreign land for a whole generation definitely qualifies--but in the end, life is not just a game of chance, a spin of the wheel. God will never abandon us, even in the toughest times.
As 2017 draws to a close, there are definitely a few moments I don't care to relive. Nothing at all like the Babylonian exile, but there were definitely moments of confusion, heartbreak, outrage, and dejection. I'd say on the level I'm ending the year feeling much more hopeful about life in general than I began it. But it helps to read a psalm like 126 and realize if God can take God's people back from exile, God can bring us back from anything. It's not just a spin of the wheel. God is rooting for us, and if we have eyes to see, God can restore our fortunes in ways we never expected. "May those who sow in tears reap in shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come forth with shouts of joy, shouldering the sheaves."
Prayer: God, restore the fortunes of Zion. I pray once again for Jerusalem, you Holy City, that it may be a city of peace. But I also pray for the little village where I'm living now, and the cities and towns where those reading this today reside. Restore the fortunes of people facing pain, frustration and adversity. May those who are sowing in tears, reap with shouts of joy. Amen.
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