(vs. 1) “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.” Jehovah turning again the captivity was like a dream; humanly speaking, there was no hope; but now that their feet were turned in the right direction, there was rejoicing and singing.
(vs. 2) “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.” When they were in Babylon, they had no song; they could not sing Zion’s songs of victory while they were captives of their enemies. Is it not ever so? When in the wrong path, the joy is gone; there is no rejoicing or singing. When such is the case, the tendency of the heart is to blame circumstances or persons for the lack of joy. The joy can only return when the heart is poured out to the Lord in self-judgment and not in self-vindication. We miss the path first in spirit; later the feet carry us in a wrong course. In this Psalm the joy is such that even the heathen discern it and say, “The LORD hath done great things for them.”
(vs. 3-4) “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.” There seems to be a realization in these last two verses of the Lord’s care over them when it was not appreciated. In Isaiah 63:9 it is said, “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” There is the assuring comfort to the mourning ones in their trials and persecutions, as is brought out in the following verse:
(vs. 5) “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy”
(vs. 6) “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
It is very noticeable how it changes from the plural “they” of verse 5 to the singular in verse 6. This last verse is very beautiful in that it describes what the Lord passed through as He went about endeavoring to reach their hearts and consciences.
He was here as the Sower and wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41); but He is coming again, bringing His sheaves with Him. The Psalmist no doubt was thinking of His gathering back all Israel. But Isa. 49:5 shows that there would be a time in which Israel would not be gathered, due to their rejection of Him; and the light would go forth to the Gentiles, and His salvation to the end of the earth. So when He comes to Israel in the coming day of the Lord, He will have the heavenly sheaves with Him-those He has previously caught up to be with Himself (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Then, later, He will be revealed from heaven, and will come to be glorified in His saints (2 Thess. 1:7-10); after that, Israel shall be gathered back (Isa. 49:5-23).