Psalm 126

Some of these Psalms have this supernatural ability to put into words different experiences we have in life that sometimes get lost because we just don't know how to express them in the right way. I hope that hits with someone else, because as I spent a little bit of time today after I read this chapter thinking about it, God just impressed on me how this first verse perfectly describes so many experiences that I've had in my Christian life.

When I started walking after God - and I've settled it that I gave my life to the Lord when I was 12 back when Calvary was in Norwell on Longwater Dr. - but when I returned to the Lord at the end of 2008, that Thanksgiving, I entered into reality. I began to see how wrongly I had thought about pretty much everything and as the Spirit of God in me started speaking again and chipping away at the ice on my heart and the callouses I'd allowed to form, He started changed the way I thought about everything. I realized I had been captive by my sin and I was a slave to the enemy I was serving. I wasn't able to see it while in the midst of it, but when the Lord broke me and I finally responded the truth of my situation prior to Him was obvious.

So first 1 comes in and says, "When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream." Man, I was stunned by what I found as my eyes were opened and I was set free from the sin that had almost destroyed me. Some of the more nasty things fell away immediately, without me even thinking about it. The Lord simply removed them from my life and they haven't returned since. But I can apply this verse in so many ways to what he means by "like those who dream". Either it speaks of a dream coming true and the hopes and wishes of the people finally coming to pass, or, and this is what I think, it speaks of those who finally get to the other side of things - freedom from captivity, a massive shift in their circumstances and their lives forever being altered - and them not being able to grasp it or understand what's taken place at first.

I sorta think of myself as looking around, knowing that something incredible had just taken place that night when I said, "Lord, I believe You're real. Please change this mess of a life". I know that my life was forever changed, but it didn't quite click, if that makes sense. No fireworks, no booming voices, no thunder, etc. It sorta seemed like at any minute I would wake up and find myself back in captivity, back serving my flesh, back doing all the things that I'd spent almost a decade doing that were making me miserable but I found myself unable to escape from.

So I understand what he's saying here. I was thinking it was too good to be true and I was waiting for the string that's always attached to a deal this good to be pulled and the floor was gonna fall out from under me and I was gonna be tricked again and trapped even more.

But I think between verse 1 and verse 2 there's this realization where everyone looks around and the reality of what's happened - freedom! - hits home. I think between these two verses they wake up from the dream and realize they were never dreaming at all! Scofield links this section to Acts 12 where Peter is freed from prison but he thinks he's seeing a vision until he's outside and he comes to his senses. That's what I think happens between verses 1 and 2. And just like in Acts where prayer was being made for Peter and just like in this Psalm where we know the faithful remnant were praying for Israel to be set free (Daniel, other prophets) I know that one day I'll get to heaven and I hope there I'll find out who and how many people were praying for me when I had sold myself to sin and they faithfully interceded on my behalf before God asking for Him to set me free from my captivity.

This next verse, man, this next verse is the natural, sane response to the reality of what our God has done for us! Now, some of us are more emotional than others, and that's completely fine. God's made us all the way we are for a reason. I weep at the Pamper's "Forever Young" baby animal commerical which can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rW_Cgi1CGg

Some of you may, some of you may not. If that baby elephant getting helped over the downed tree by the mama elephant doesn't get you, well, you're probably not a weeper. If, however, like me, it takes you by surprise and then you're pretending to yawn to cover the tears building in your eyes, well, you're a crier.

Back to the point, when they realize what God's done, the only sane response is explosive praise and worship! And that's something that I need to keep before me on a regular basis. What He has done for me very often results in an emotional response. Be it tears or praise or both or something else entirely, God's given us emotions - again, some are more emotional than others - and while it's silly for us to try to work ourselves into an emotional weepy frenzy, Paul does tell Timothy to stir up the gift that's been given to him. And Bob Marley says the same thing.

By the mouth of two witnesses, guys, we need to sometimes take a minute and think back on what God's done in our lives, where He's taken us from, what we see Him doing around us right now, and like we heard last night, what we have to look forward to. For anyone who missed last night, Revelation 21-22 and the hope we have in Jesus were covered! That may stir some of us to cry, some of us may sit and as the Psalmist did just laugh at the absurdity of it all - Almighty God loves me! - or, and hopefully this is part of our response, it stirs us to press on and gain strength and renew our trust in our God.

Because the Lord has indeed done great things for us. And as we look around at our unsaved family and friends, at how messed up the rest of the world is, how dangerous it's becoming, how increasingly scary it is to think that the people in power are more and more corrupt and self-serving...it then naturally should lead us to share in the broken heart that Christ has for this world. We're glad because of what He's done for us but like we read all throughout the Bible, God's Word is a bittersweet pill to swallow. The joy we receive in Christ is incredible but the reality of what that means for all those who will reject Him is awful.

So as we read that we're to sow in tears, continually going forth in weeping, we have to recognize that if God has told us that we'll reap in joy if we sow in tears, we then seem to have a responsibility to sow in tears. For those who cry at Pamper's commercials, I don't think we get a pass! Very well our weepiness could be the wrong tears, an overly emotional response to clever marketing and washy Rod Stewart music! Certainly God has given some of us softer hearts, but we still need to be asking daily for His heart for those around us. And to those who would have no problem eating the family pet in an end of the world scenario, well, you need to be praying too! God has a heart for the lost that we're to share in, and while we know that we're in Christ and we have the mind of Christ and I believe we have the heart of Christ, just like everything else in our walk, it's a process of growth as we go through this process of sanctification.

We need to be asking Him for a heart for the lost. We need to grow in our walks to the place where, like Jesus, we can weep over Jerusalem who rejected Him even as He wished to gather their kids to Himself and cover them with His protection, knowing full well the consequence of rejecting Him meant in 70 A.D. Rome would come sweeping in and massacre the entire city. We know, just like Jesus, that unless the lost around us receive Him as their Lord and Savior - Lord means obedience, we're not talking fire insurance Savior here! - unless they receive Him as Lord and Savior they too will face judgment on an eternal scale. If it caused Jesus to weep, well, I need to be like Him and weep over those around me today!

The cool thing is that this Psalm ends with doubtless rejoicing. I know that my Redeemer lives, as my man Job would say, and I'll stand with Him on that day when He returns to this earth to set all things right. I'm looking into horseback riding lessons so I'm don't fall off my horse at 30,000 feet and cause a scene, but I know that just like all other times in my life He's faithful to catch me and put me back on my horse and set me back on my way.

Last thing, imagine if He wasn't loving, kind, good, faithful, etc., or if His love was dependent on our performance? How awful it would be if His love depended on me meeting His standards! I'd have quite a long time ago. But Jesus paid it all, and the more I spend my time with Him the more I see how good of a deal I'm getting! And to think He'll one day present me before His Father in heaven. If any of you were ever like me - a sinner deserving of hell - then this is some pretty awesome news indeed!

God Bless
Josh