This Psalm gives a glimpse of A JOYFUL PEOPLE!
- a NEEDY people? yes.
- a LONGING people? yes.
- a SERIOUS people? yes.
- a FOCUSED people? yes.
- a SOWING people? YES!
But this song of ascent has GREAT JOY mixed into every nook and cranny. It’s a song that only God’s people can sing…AND WE SING IT BEST TOGETHER!
1. JOY, AS WE LOOK BACK (1-3)
Psalm 126:1–3 ESV
The psalm shows us a people who care more for this “Zion” than for their individual or personal property.
Zion would have been the closest thing in the OLD TESTAMENT to what we now refer to as the KINGDOM OF GOD!
• Today, Christ has equipped us to care more DEEPLY and more PASSIONATELY about HIS CAUSE and HIS CHURCH than for our own success, our own comfort and our own good name.
THIS WEEK, LOOK FOR “US” MOMENTS – KINGDOM OF GOD MOMENTS – MISSION BIBLE CHURCH MOMENTS – TO BE JOYFUL ABOUT!
2. JOY AS WE LOOK AROUND (4)
Psalm 126:4 ESV
After we think about the deep work that God has done in our lives…
We can open our eyes to see the need around us, and JOIN God on His mission!
WE CAN JOYFULLY ASK THE LORD TO DO A GREAT WORK, BECAUSE HE IS THE GREAT GOD – THE MAKER OF HEAVEN & EARTH!
Just like the Psalmist knew that once God began to move, it would be like gushing waters in barren places…GOD’S PEOPLE KNOW THAT GOD WILL MOVE THROUGH US AS WE SAY, “HERE AM I LORD, SEND ME” WHERE I LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY!
3. JOY AS WE LOOK AHEAD (5-6)
Psalm 126:5–6 ESV
IF WE SOW, WE WILL REAP FOR GOD’S GLORY! ALL OUR SUFFERING WHILE LABORING FOR HIM, IS WORTH IT!
Gospel work is like this.
- It can mean sleepless nights.
- It can bring mockery from folks that we had hoped would like us.
- It will cause us to sacrifice financially at times.
- WE MAY WORK VERY HARD…and have little to show for it.
- It will bring rejection…sometimes hard-hearted rejection from people we love deeply.
WE NEED THESE TEARS.
THEY ARE A PART OF THE SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER THAT FLOW FROM WITHIN US.
WHEN I LOOK BACK…I’VE GOT JOY! I can praise Him for His workin in the past.
WHEN I LOOK AROUND…I’VE GOT JOY! I can praise Him as He’s working even NOW!
WHEN I LOOK FORWARD…I’VE GOT JOY! I can praise Him for the HARVEST that’s coming…and for the privilege of sowing in tears…weeping as we sow!