This restoration of the captivity of Zion is now specially noticed. The very heathen were astonished and noticed the hand of the Lord for them, and the echo of praise came from the people, "He hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." How simple and eloquent this word!
4. This verse takes the restoration of the captivity of Zion as the pledge of the restoration of the whole people.
5. This is the joyful experience of Israel, the humbled and sorrowful Remnant, ground and laid low, but with godly sorrow now reaped with joy. But there was One above all who had sown precious seed in Israel, and in love as well as in righteousness, and in both combined, had been a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, their faces hid from Him, but now He filled His bosom with the sheaves, for, though sown in tears, the seed was indeed precious seed, and the fruit sweet to His taste, and the joy of His labor of love, now He reaped it. The husbandman had had long patience for it, and waited the early and the latter rain, but now the precious, blessed fruit came-first laboring, He now partook of the fruits—He came again rejoicing.
I have had difficulty in this Psalm, but the point of it seems to rest on "Zion." It had been mentioned in the former Psalm. The hills were "round about" her. But the restoration of Zion is the occasion of the burst of day upon the nation and wanderers—the word is of the Remnant. The last would seem to be of Jesus. All was dark—no titular deliverance—no throne taken—no definite re-recognition of the Lord in the City of solemnities. But when the Lord "turned the captivity" or "restored the rest" of Zion, then were they "like them that dream." The deliverance was then plain in its great pledge—Jerusalem was to be the throne of the Lord. This was to be "trodden down of the Gentile till"—but the "till" was now come. Zion was taken into the hand of Jehovah—He had aroused Himself to take His place on the earth. It was owned even of the heathen—it was the Lord's deliverance; compare Psa. 132:13, 14. It was so, "The Lord had done great things" for them; they were glad. This forms the ground of the desire of the believing Remnant for their restoration, including I suppose the people in the countries. The Lord has done this—we may now expect all. This remained now for the Lord to do-their heart was in Zion—it was restored—the Lord's heart was there, His hand was there, the rest would follow. It would be as refreshing streams I suppose where the heat and desert was—they had now sown in tears," not rejoicing when iniquity prevailed, but laboring in trial; compare John 4:36, 37, etc. But this is the Remnant generally.
6. I believe this to be specially of the great Sower—One who did weep over Zion, but, though so He went forth, He returned rejoicing, nor were the streams of His love wanting, and He brings the fruit of the travail of His soul. It is a lovely Psalm, and puts the Lord in a sweet and precious light—light of truth; compare Psa. 14:7, and see Rom. 11:26. Compare, as to Israel, Jer. 31:6, 12 and chap. 3: 14. And note in these Psalms we have the union of Israel (the first stating their distress, first under Antichrist, then under Mesech and Kedar north and south) in connection with and brought up to Zion. As to this last, see Psalms 2: 6; 48; 49: 35; 87: 2; 102: 13, 16; Christ's interest in it; Psa. 129:5; 132:13; 146:10; 147; and 149: 2. Isaiah, Micah and Zechariah pursue & subject.