Scott Schutte: Psalm 126. When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream. We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, what amazing things the Lord has done for them!' Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us. What joy.
Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. This is, another one of the Psalms that was a song of ascent as people were traveling from wherever they lived to Jerusalem during one of the festivals. And it's really reflecting on how God delivered, the Israelites from times of distress, times of being exiled.
And, I really reflect on verses four through six. It's got a beautiful picture of streams hitting a desert. And I just kind of imagine water flowing over a dry ground and the ground just absorbing that life that comes from the water. And that's really what God does for us, and that's what God did for Israel. And I think it's also worth mentioning that there's two sides and two different ways we can relate to this.
You know, there are people who are going through those difficult times, and they're in times where they're planting in tears and there's that's unfortunate. There there are times where we're going through something difficult and we're planting in tears. There are other times in our life, and maybe this is you, where God has delivered you from something, maybe an exile type moment in your life. And so I think it's important for us to reflect on where we're at. Are you going through something difficult?
And are you able to pray in that hope that God will deliver you? And are you going or have you returned from something difficult and praying and thanking God for how he's delivered you. So let's pray on that together. God, thank you for how you have delivered us in this life through our difficulties. I reflect in my own experience of times where I thought there was no way out and I thought, my life was being destroyed and you came through and you delivered me.
And so I just thank you for how you have delivered me in the past and, I rejoice in that. And God, I also wanna, reflect on the possibility that there are people right now that are going through struggles. And I ask that you would be with them in the midst of their tears and that you would give them the hope that you would restore their future. And all this we lift up in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.