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PSALM CXXVI.

ARGUMENT..

In this Psalm, the children of Zion describe the joy consequent upon their restoration from captivity; they pray God to bring back the rest of their countrymen, and to complete his work; they foresee and predict the success of their labours, in rebuilding their ruined city with its temple, and cultivating again their desolated country. The return of Israel from Babylon, holds forth a figure of the same import with the exodus of that people from Egypt. And this Psalm, like the prophecies of Isaiah, represents the blessed effects of a spiritual redemption, in words primarily alluding to that temporal release.

1. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

That Cyrus should issue a decree for the Jews to return to their own country, and to rebuild their city and temple; that he should dismiss such a number of captives, not only without money and without price, but should send them home laden with presents; this was the work of Jehovah, who only could thus turn the captivity of Zion. A restoration so complete, so strange and unlooked for, brought about at once, without any endeavours used on the side of Israel, seemed,

in all these respects, as a dream; and the parties concerned, when they saw and heard such things, could scarcely believe themselves to be awake. That the King of kings, of his own mere love and mercy, should take pity on poor mankind, in their more grievous captivity under sin and death; that he should send his only Son to purchase their liberty, his Spirit to enrich, and conduct them to their country above, and his heralds to proclaim such unexpected deliverance to all the world; this likewise was the work of the same Jehovah, who only could THUS "turn again the captivity of his Zion." Sinners, when the tidings of a salvation so great and marvellous are preached to them, think themselves in a dream, and with difficulty give credit even to the royal proclamation, though the great seal of heaven is affixed to it.

2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

The people of God soon find, that they are not mocked with illusions, but that all about them is reality and truth. Then sorrow and sighing, fear and distrust, fly away together. Joy fills their hearts, and overflows by their tongues, in songs of praise. The nations hear, and are astonished, and own the hand of Jehovah in the restoration of his people; "Jehovah hath done great things for them." The chosen people echo back the gladsome sound, and reply, with transports of gratitude, "Jehovah hath done great things for us,

whereof we are glad." Every word of this agrees not more exactly to the return from Babylon, than it does to that eternal redemption thereby prefigured, which is the grand subject of thanksgiving in the Christian church.

4. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

The joy occasioned by Cyrus's proclamation having been described in the former part of the Psalm, we may now suppose some of the Jews ready to set out on their return home; at which time, and during their journey, they prefer this petition to God, that he would be pleased to bring back the rest of their countrymen, who, like floods rolling down upon the thirsty regions of the south, might people the land, and by their labours put an end to the desolations of Judah. That God would daily increase the number of true converts from the world to the church, to clear and cultivate the mystical vineyard, to build and to ornament the holy city, should be the prayer of every labourer in that vineyard, of every citizen in that city.

5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The fatigue of travelling from Babylon to Judea; the melancholy prospect of a long-depopulated country, and ruined city; the toil necessary to be undergone, before the former could be again brought into order, and the latter rebuilt; all these considerations could not but allay the joy of the released captives, and even

draw many tears from their eyes. They are therefore comforted with a gracious promise, that God would give a blessing to the labours of their hands, and crown them with success, so that they should once more see Jerusalem in prosperity, and behold in Zion the beauty of holiness. This promise is conveyed under images borrowed from the instructive scenes of agriculture. In the sweat of his brow the husbandman tills his land, and casts the seed into the ground, where, for a time, it lies dead and buried. A dark and dreary winter succeeds, and all seems to be lost. But at the return of spring, universal nature revives, and the once desolate fields are covered with corn, which, when matured by the sun's heat, the cheerful reapers cut down, and it is brought home with triumphant shouts of joy. Here, O disciple of Jesus, behold an emblem of thy present labour, and thy future reward. Thou sowest, perhaps, in tears; thou doest thy duty amidst persecution and affliction, sickness, pain, and sorrow; thou labourest in the church, and no account is made of thy labours; no profit seems likely to arise from them. Nay, thou must thyself drop into the dust of death, and all the storms of that winter must pass over thee, until thy form shall be perished, and thou shalt see corruption. Yet, the day is coming, when thou shalt reap in joy; and plentiful shall be thy harvest. For thus thy blessed Master "went forth weeping, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, bearing precious seed," and sowing it around him, till at length his own body was buried, like a grain of wheat, in the furrow of the grave. But he arose, and is now in

heaven; from whence he shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, bringing his sheaves with him. Then shall every man receive the fruit of his works, and have praise of God.

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