Psalm 126

Psalm 126 is one focused on the joys of deliverance.  It is focused on praising God for setting free His captive people.  Sometimes, however, we are in captivity and this type of psalm isn’t too comforting for us, is it?  This doesn’t always apply to physical captivity, as we saw Israel held captive by Babylon.  Most of the time, we are in emotional or spiritual captivity.  Maybe you are in a bad relationship.  Maybe you are caught up in the slavery of addiction.  Maybe you are, in fact, unjustly incarcerated.  Whatever flavor of captivity you are in, the point is that the Lord delivers us.

This psalm is a freedom shout.  It glorifies God for His goodness.  It’s a happy tune!  How can we lean into this, even if we aren’t “feeling it”? Remember.  Remember the time you were in a helpless situation but now here you are to tell the story.  Remember a past turmoil that now you have survived.  Consider one of those times you were in emotional anguish.  You might still have some residual pain and scars from it, but you aren’t in it anymore.  There is a plethora of hypothetical stories I could come up with to help you jog your memory.  Instead, I want to invite you to share your story. 

Maybe you are going through it right now.  Maybe you are on the tail end of a difficult situation.  Maybe you can see the clouds gathering for a big storm.  How did/will you stay focused on Christ?  How does He deliver you from your turmoil?

I think back to a time of immense darkness in my own life.  A specific moment that was so impactful to me, I can just close my eyes and put myself back there.  I had just separated from the Marine Corps.  My wife at the time had just returned from deployment and told me she didn’t love me anymore and I had to leave the house.  I was living in a makeshift bedroom in my parent’s dining room.  We were watching tv one night and I was laying down on the floor like a little kid.  Rascal Flatts was performing one of their new songs live and I started to tear up.  As I heard Broken Roadfor the first time and tears rolled down my face, I silently prayed to God.  “I hope one day I can sing this song and it be true.”  I wanted to meet and spend my life with someone who would love me despite my flaws, failures, and past.  I desired to be pulled out of this pit of despair I was living.  I was exiled from everything that gave my life meaning and purpose.  Fourteen years later, I heard that song as I enjoyed my first dance with my true wife.  It wasn’t until then that I was able to see how the Lord delivered me from my captivity and redeemed the time I had lost.

This brings to mind what the Lord promised Israel in Joel 2:

25 I will repay you the years that the locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my mighty troops that I sent against you. 26 And you will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has dealt with you ⌊wondrously⌋. My people ⌊will never be ashamed⌋. 27 And you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and I am Yahweh, your God, and there is no other. My people ⌊will never be ashamed again⌋.

This small book of prophecy talks about God’s redemption of His people.  Some of what God spoke through Joel has already come to pass.  Some of what he prophesied is yet to come.  The hope we have in Jesus, however, is that there is actually something to hope for!  Despite what we have been through.  Despite what we are currently going through, and despite what we will go through that we haven’t even considered yet, the Lord is good and will deliver and redeem us!