Psalms 126-134

Psalms 126-134

            I love the imagery of Psalm 126: the idea of relief that makes prior trouble seem like a dream; laughter and joy filling the mouth; streams in the desert. Very evocative images of what it is like when the trouble is past. I love the promise of verses 5-6, too: sowing tears but reaping joy. My own experience is that trouble doesn’t just suddenly go away; I have experienced precious few moments in which the turnaround is so immediate. For me, it seems like trouble fades: griefs are slowly healed, health and strength return after sickness in a few days. But still there comes a day when you realize you’re laughing again, that your joy has returned, and it’s a beautiful thing.

            Psalm 127 extols the virtues of children and a family founded in the Lord. I do think a word of caution is in order here. I’ve heard this psalm used to mandate large families, and I think that we should be careful. While we can in principle rejoice in the gift of children, we should also think of those who are unable to bear children and make sure we don’t accidentally make it seem like they are less than blessed or even under the Lord’s censure. Remember Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptizer’s parents: they are described as righteous and blameless—and barren. Sometimes the Lord blesses differently.

            Psalm 130 is one of my absolute favorites. It begins with a common experience of life, namely, that we are in the depths, trouble surrounding us. It rejoices in the Lord’s faithfulness, that He is gracious and forgiving. And it encourages waiting on the Lord. I find that a really helpful outlook: life is hard sometimes; God is good all the time; and our calling is to wait until the Lord resolves those two things.

            Psalm 133 likens the unity of God’s people to oil and to dew. Oil on the head probably doesn’t sound all that pleasant to moderns; we shampoo often to keep the oil out of our hair. But in an ancient world without our fancy soaps and ointments, oil on the head was considered luxurious, keeping unruly hair in place. As far as the dew is concerned, Hermon is a snow-capped mountain in the north of Israel. It is the source of the Jordan River. For these reasons, it’s emblematic of fertility. In contrast, Mt. Zion is relatively arid. It’s surrounding region rockier, less given to growth. So, the image is one of transferring prosperity from Hermon to Zion. Unity creates a sense of being well-taken care of, well-provided for.