The joy of coming home
When the LORD brought us back to Jerusalem,
it was like a dream!
How we laughed, how we sang for joy!
Then the other nations said about us,
‘The LORD did great things for them.’
Indeed he did great things for us; how happy we were! (verses 1-3)
Read Psalm 126
This psalm expresses the joy of people returning home after being in exile in Babylon for seventy years. Some of the exiles had died in Babylon. Others had been born there. For those who were returning, their joy knew no bounds. We experience a similar joy. There are many times in our live when we drift or deliberately walk away from God. We think we can go it alone, not needing anyone else’s help, including God’s. We let doubts and fears overcome us and drive us to despair. There are times when we don’t really want God around, because we know he wouldn’t approve of what we’re doing. We may have stopped believing in God. These are our times of self-imposed exile in Babylon.
Then, like the younger son in Jesus’ story of the lost sons, we come to our senses (Luke 15:17). We turn back to God an acknowledge what we have done. And we hear the sweet words of forgiveness. We know what the psalm writer meant when he prayed, ‘Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation’ (Psalm 51:12). Coming home, coming back to God, is always a joyful experience. And God also rejoices when we do.
‘Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your holy spirit away from me. Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation.’ (Psalm 51:10-12)
by Robert Turnbull, in ‘Living Water for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2001)
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