Click here to read PSALM 126 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 126 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Whereas Psalm 119 showed that God would raise the Messiah from the dead to eternal life, Psalm 126 is the seventh of 15 “songs of the degrees” (Psalms 120-134) regarding God keeping Hezekiah alive (see the notes on Psalm 120 for more details).
Psalm 126, written by Hezekiah, shows the Messiah’s captivity being turned away by the Lord, and his rejoicing and gladness at God’s deliverance.
Structure
(Messiah’s suffering)
(Verse 1) Messiah’s captivity turned away by the Lord: like a dream
(Verse 2) Rejoicing and gladness at God’s deliverance
(Verse 3) Messiah’s captivity turned away by the Lord: like a stream
(Verse 4) Rejoicing and gladness at God’s deliverance
Key Scriptures
Verse 4—“Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.” The Hebrew word translated “streams” means literally a container or tube—as the narrow valleys formed in the rocks and gorges of the desert, where torrential rains carve out waterways. The Hebrew word translated “south” is Negeb, referring to a parched region in southern Judah. Just as the torrents turn sharply in their stream beds carved from the desert, so will the Lord turn the captivity of the Messiah. He also sets His people free through the righteous acts of the Messiah.
Verses 5,6—“They that sow in tears [starvation while under siege] shall reap in joy [God’s abundant supply after the siege was broken]. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.“ This could refer to Isaiah’s prophecy to Hezekiah to end the siege of Jerusalem. Isaiah 37:21,30,31: “Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria: And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof. And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.”
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
You can also hear the author read them aloud on YouTube.
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
