The ransomed of the Lord, now fully on their way, as we have seen, call to mind their joy when the decree of Cyrus was published, and also the kindly words of some neighbors of theirs on that occasion. For in the crowd around the cross, while there were those who cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him,” there were also the weeping daughters of Jerusalem. Such too have been commonly seen at the martyrdom of the saints. And such appear here at the return of Israel from Babylon. Some despised (Psa. 123:3-43Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. (Psalm 123:3‑4)), while others congratulated them (126:2).
The captives on their return, and that very naturally, call to mind their prayer (Psa. 126:44Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. (Psalm 126:4)), and are able, from the whole history, to draw the moral (Psa. 126:5-65They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5‑6))—a moral, too, that marks the history of Christ Himself and all His people. He afterward sowed in tears at Jerusalem (Luke 19:4141And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, (Luke 19:41)), but by and by He will there reap in joy (Isa. 65:18-1918But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (Isaiah 65:18‑19)).
How little do believers realize the joy of deliverance as expressed in this beautiful Psalm. The captives, on the decree of Cyrus, were like men that dreamed. It was as though some brave fiction had filled their hearts, so rapt were they in the joy of that moment. O that we knew this when we think of salvation and of Jesus! The eunuch went on his way rejoicing, and the joy seems to have made him indifferent to the strange departure of his dear companion. How should our hearts covet this satiating delight in Him!
NOTE—We cannot fail to have noticed that Cyrus, the conqueror of Babylon and the deliverer of Israel, is a type of Christ, and so treated by Isaiah. (See Isa. 44 and Isa. 45.) He and his conquests were named and described by that prophet nearly 200 years before he was born.