The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 126
PSALM CXXVI.
A Song of degrees.
ARGUMENT.
This Pſalm is ſo univerſally thought to be a joyfull Song compoſed by Ezra, or ſome ſuch good man, when they returned out of Babylon; that I ſhall ſeek for no other interpretation. But obſerve, with Theodoret; that when Cyrus gave them all leave to return to their own Land, ſome were ſo ill minded that they choſe to continue where they were: But ſuch as had any ſenſe of the piety of their Forefathers, and deſired to ſee the worſhip of God, according to the Law, reſtored, gladly embraced the opportunity of returning to their own Country. Where they thought themſelves ſo happy in the liberty which they enjoyed, that they pray (Ver. 4.) all the reſt of the Nation who remained ſtill behind, would come and partake of it.
This is the moſt received ſenſe; elſe I ſhould have thought the deliverance from Senacherib might be here celebrated: who had carried many of them Captive, (V. Iſa. 13. and other places) and when they were delivered from his oppreſſion, they were indeed like men that dreamed, as the Pſalmiſt here ſpeaks. For awaking in the morning and ſeeing his vaſt Army to be dead Corpſes, (2 King. XIX. 35.) they could ſcarce believe, what they beheld with their eyes; it was ſo wonderfull.
And perhaps it was firſt made then, and afterward applied, with ſome alteration, to their return from Babylon. See CXXXIII.
1. WHen the LORD turned again the captivity of Sion, we were like them that dream.
1. TO the Lord alone muſt we aſcribe this wonderfull change; (which is like the ſudden recovery of health, out of a tedious and deſperate ſickneſs) For when the proclamation unexpectedly came forth, to give us liberty to return to our own Country, out of a long captivity, (I. Ezra 2, 3.) we could ſcarce believe it; but were apt to look upon our ſelves, as onelyonly in a dream of ſo great a happineſs.
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.
2. Which preſently turned our heavineſs into ſuch a heighth of joy, that it filled all places with our mirth; eſpecially with chearfull hymns: in which the heathen themſelves accompanied us, ſaying; This truly is the Lord's work, who hath magnified his power in the ſtrange deliverance of this Nation.
3. The LORD hath done great things for us: whereof we are glad.
3. And truly ſo He hath (we ſhould be very ungratefull, if we ſhould not thankfull, if we ſhould not thankfully acknowledge the ſingular benefits, which ſtrangers admire) the Lord hath not onelyonly reſtored our liberty; but declared the greatneſs of his power in this deliverance; which juſtly fills us with joy and triumph.
4. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the ſtreams in the ſouth.
4. O that the Lord would be pleaſed to perfect what He hath begun! and bring back, in greater numbers, the reſt of our brethren that ſtill remain in Babylon: which would be as welcome to this deſolate Country, as ſtreams of water to the dry and thirſty grounds.
5. They that ſow in tears, ſhall reap in joy.
5. Then this ſmall handfull of people, who are come to plant themſelves here again, and have laid the foundation of the Temple, with a great mixture of ſadneſs and tears, (III. Ezra 12.) ſhall ſhout for joy, to ſee ſo great an increaſe, and this pious work, by their help, brought unto perfection.
6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious ſeed, ſhall doubtleſs come again with rejoycing, bringing his ſheaves with him.
6. Juſt as we behold the poor husbandman, going to and fro with a little ſeed, which in a ſcarce year he throws with an heavy heart into the ground, returning again and again from the field, with ſongs of joy in his mouth; when the harveſt comes to reward his paſt labours, with a plentifull crop of corn.