Advent - Week 3, Day 3: Joy In The World!

What2Say2Day? Continuing with our journey on seeking peace in a troubled life/world let's take a look at the second half of our Psalm. Psalm 126:4-6 says, "Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves." If you'll allow me to do a quick recap...Jerusalem in ruins, Hebrew people return, must rebuild, Psalmist wants to encourage. There, that wasn't too bad, was it? In the first half of this Psalm the Psalmist reminds the Hebrews that God was with them in better times and, truth be told, has never left. In the second half of the Psalm the writer gives somewhat of a blessing to those who are doing the work of rebuilding. Reminding them that the work ahead will be difficult and most likely filled with sadness. But in the end, when the restoration is done, everything will be joyful. As I've said on more than one occasion these past few weeks (and I apologize for the few more times I'll be saying this) this Advent I'm trying to take a different journey of having Christ live through me in order that those who are looking and waiting for Christ can perhaps find him in me. Every time I read about sowers and seeds I cannot help but think about the parables of Jesus that talk about the same topics. I wonder, just wonder, if the Psalmist had the same idea. Maybe in the time of restoration and rebuilding the Psalmist isn't talking about buildings and farmland. Maybe the Psalmist is talking about people. I believe we are the seed bearers who go out to sow the truths of God and as any good farmer knows once the seeds are planted we need to nurture them until the day of harvest. This is what I think Psalm 126 is trying to say to us today. We need to never forget the God has always been with us, through good times and bad, and when things seem to be at their worst we need to go out and replant the seeds of God's love. Be the sowers, nurture the seeds we plant, and enjoy God's garden.