Psalm 126:1-2 "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."
As we continue in the Psalms, we are still gaining degrees of freedom in our
walk with the Lord. Have you ever dreamed and didn't want to wake up?
Have you ever experienced something that caused you to feel like you were
dreaming; yet, you know it's true. You feel like you need someone to pinch you
to make sure you are awake, but then you don't want them to pinch you because
you are afraid you really are dreaming. This Psalm speaks of that type of joy
in our hearts. For us older ones, it's a joy that allows you to look at
life differently. Sometimes it causes you to act like a teenager again.
You laugh and sing. God puts a song in your heart that maybe was missing.
People can look at you and know "God has done great things."
This is the joy of which the Psalmist is writing. It is so great that it
changes your countenance and your outlook. Whether it was on a national level,
or a personal level, the Psalmist is writing of a situation where he knew
without a doubt the Lord had intervened and placed favor and blessing upon him
as he had not experienced before. Even if he wanted to, he could not stop
from expressing the joy that was in his heart. There was not only joy, but a
new hope had been placed within him that a new season had begun.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new." Certainly when Christ comes to us and reveals Himself to us,
we are made a new creature in Him. There is great joy in knowing the deep and
abiding love of our Lord. We are made fresh and refreshed by the presence of
our Lord. "All things become new." But may I suggest to
us that every day can be like that, if we seek to look at life through
the eyes and mind of Christ. There is fresh joy and new encouragement to be
found as we seek to follow His leadership in our lives.
Some people have the misgiven idea that following Christ slows us down or
causes drudgery. I declare through my own experience that it is quite the
opposite. If the Lord has first place in our lives, He will lead us in the
right path where there is joy and gladness and fulfillment and hope for better
days. We have laughter and singing when we can understand that everyday
we live is filled with the great things God is doing for us. My thought
today is, don't let that joy pass you by. When you stop to smell the roses,
think about the goodness of God that placed those roses there for your
enjoyment.