Song Of The Returned Exiles

"When YAHWEH brought the exiles back to Zion,

we were like those moving in a dream.

Then, our mouths were filled with laughter,

and our tongues with songs of joy.

Among the nations it was said,

'YAHWEH has done great things for them.'

YAHWEH had done great things for us,

and we were glad indeed.

Bring back our exiles, O YAHWEH,

like fresh streams in the desert.

Those who sow in tears 

will reap with songs and shouts of joy.

They went forth weeping, 

bearing the seeds for sowing,

they will come home with joyful shouts,

bringing their harvested sheaves."

- Psalm 126:1-6

(Israel's drought will turn to fertility.  Her own labor of sowing will achieve its harvest.  'The field is the world' [Matthew 13:38] and the field whitens for a harvest of souls gathered to eternal life [John 4:35ff; Matthew 13:30].  But the sowing is in tears: 'Unless the seed falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone' [John 12:24ff].  The seed is the Word--the Word made flesh and crucified.  The tears are HIS, the joys ours: 'YAHWEH has done great things for us!'  And yet we, too, have our crucifixion.  If we want to turn suffering into hope, tears into songs, we can pray with this psalm.)

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