Psalm 126:1-3 "When the LORD
turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. (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."
There were times when they went under the influence of other
nations. There were times when Israel was carried away into captivity by other
nations. For most times, their captivity was not a sudden thing. Little by
little, darkness would creep into the lives of the people. The influence of
other nations and their idols would be allowed into the lives of the people.
God would warn them. Actually, He would warn them more than once. The time of
captivity that most of us would remember would be when Israel was carried into
the nation of Babylon. The physical nation of Israel was left to be inhabited
by a few who had escaped captivity.
This captivity is familiar to us because we remember
Nebuchadnezzar being driving into the field to live as a beast until he lifted
his eyes into heaven and declared the Lord God to be the only true God. We
remember that captivity for it was during that time that the three Hebrew
children were cast into the fiery furnace. When the king looked into the
furnace, he saw four men loose and walking about. We remember that time of
captivity for it was during that time that Daniel was thrown into the lions'
den. It was God Who shut the mouths of the lions and kept Daniel safe.
We remember those times when God showed Himself to be the
Sovereign Lord over all things. The people who lived in that captivity would
remember those times but also the harsh times. Being held captive is never a
time of celebration. There is much hard work to be done, for the people are
slaves to their captors.
Today's Scripture speaks of celebration when the captivity
is released. There is much joy when the Lord intervenes to free His people. The
greatest liberation came to us when Jesus Christ freed us from our debt of sin.
He willingly took our place, became sin, and died on the cross in order for that
debt to be paid. Quite honestly, at that point I do not read of celebrations
being held. I read of the disciples going to an upper room and remaining there
almost as if they still were captive. I read of two men who walked sadly down
the road to Emmaus. Things had not taken place as they thought it should.
When did the celebration begin? The debt was paid already,
but true joy came when Jesus walked out of the grave alive! Weeping may endure
for a nighttime, but joy comes in the morning! Release from captivity comes
when the Warrior of God shows Himself to be the All Powerful Victor! Israel was
released from captivity by the grace and power of God. You and I were released
from the captivity of our sinful nature by the grace and power of God. We can
only be released from the habitual nature of the flesh by the grace and power
of God.
You see, we sometimes become captive to habits. We can
become captive to emotions. We can become captive to past hurts and
disappointments. We cannot be released from that captivity on our own power. It
is solely by the grace of the Almighty God that we can walk through the fire,
loosed and rejoicing in the presence of the KING of kings and LORD of lords.
Are you being held captive? It requires a good look in the
mirror to know for certain. But by the Word of God, there is release through
the blood of Jesus Christ. There is joy and rejoicing to be had in our lives
when we submit to our Lord and walk with Him. We read again verse 3, " The
LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."