Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 126
PSAL. CXXVI.
VErſ. 1 When the Lord turned again] viz; From Babylon; and therefore that which ſome tranſlations have in the title, A Pſalm of David (which is not in the Hebrew) would bee left out; for it ſeemeth to have been penned by Ezra, or ſome Prophet of his time.
Wee were like them that dream] Tanta fuit liberationis … abilitas, ſo admirable was the deliverace, that wee could hardly beleeve it; as fearing the certainty, and yet hoping the truth. Such a paſſion was upon Peter, when enlarged by the Angel, Act. 12. upon the Grecians, when ſet free by Flaminius, the Roman Generall; Majus gaudium fuit, ſaith the Hiſtorian, quam quod univerſum homines caperent, &c. their joy was too big for their hearts, they ſcarce beleeved their own ears, when the Cryer proclaimed their liberty,Lib. 33. Cyp. Epiſt. lib. 1. Aug. Confeſ. lib. 6. cap. 12. Goſr. in vit. Bernard. but bad him ſay over that ſweet word Liberty again; they alſo looked upon one another with wonderment, velut ſomnii vanam ſpeciem, ſaith Livy. And ſuch an ecſtaſy is the new convert in as was Cyprian, Auſtin, Bernard; witneſſe their own writings.
Verſ. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter] Wee laughed amain, and ſhrilled or ſhouted aloud, when wee found that it was foreign, as Plato ſpeaketh, not a dream, but a done thing, which, (before) wee held optabile potius quam opinabile, incredible altogether.
Then ſaid they among the Heathen] They who were wont to jear us, Pſal. 137.3. God can ſoon alter the caſe of his afflicted people. See Eſth. 8.17. with the Note.
The Lord hath done great things for them] Magnifica. So, Vere magnus eſt Deus Chriſtianorum, the God of the Chriſtians is a great God indeed, ſaid Calocerius an Heathen, obſerving his works done for his people.
Verſ. 3 The Lord hath done great things] q. d. Tis a ſhame then for us not to ſay ſo, much more; and, by an holy avarice, to take the praiſes out of their mouths, who are no ſharers in it, but ſpectators only. Let the Redeemed of the Lord ſay ſo, ſpeaking good of his name.
Verſ. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord] Perfect what thou haſt ſo happily begun for us.
As the ſtreams in the South] i.e. Miraculouſly ſay ſome; as if thou ſhouldeſt cauſe rivers to run in dry and deſert places: Or comfortably, as if thou ſhouldeſt refreſh ſuch hot parts with plenty of water. Or ſuddenly. The South is a dry Country where are few ſprings, but oft land-floods, cauſed by the ſhowers of Heaven. The Jews at this day pray for a ſpeedy rebuilding of their Temple. They cry altogether, Templum tuum brevi valde cito, valde cito, in diebus noſtris citiſſime nunc aedifica, Templum tuum brevi, Bux…. de Syn…g. Jud. cap. 13.that is, build thy Temple quickly, very quickly, in our dayes, &c. ſhould not wee bee as earneſt for the myſticall Temple, &c?
Verſ. 5 They that ſow in tears] Whether Miniſters (as ſome reſtrain the ſenſe) who ſerve the Lord with many …ears and temptations, Act. 20.19. but ſee little fruit: Or others, who ſow in the tears of affliction, and compunction for ſin the cauſe thereof; his faecunda ſine dubio meſſis indulgentiae orietur, ſaith Arnobius, theſe ſhall certainly teap in joy, pardon of ſin, Iſa. 1.16. power againſt it (theſe troubled waters cure the ſoul, as the tears of Vine-branches cure the leproſie) increaſe of grace; the Lilly is ſown in her own tears, ſaith Pliny, ſo is grace; the Olive is moſt fruitfull when it moſt diſtilleth; ſo here: Theſe April-ſhowres bring on May-flowers, and make the heart to bee like a watered Garden: Beſides an acceſs of glory; for they that weep with men ſhall laugh with Angels; their tears ſhall be turned into triumphs, their ſadneſſe into gladneſſe, their ſighing into ſinging, their muſing into muſick, &c. See Mat. 5.4. This, the Protomartyr foreſaw, and therefore Ibat ovans animis, & ſpe ſua damna levabat.…embus de St. Stephano.
Verſ. 6 Hee that goeth forth and weepeth, &c.] Heb. Hee that going goeth, &c. which Luther interpreteth of temptations continued, and mutually ſucceeding one another; taking their turns upon a poor ſoul.
And weepeth] Going and weeping, and asking the way to Zion, with their faces thither-ward, Jer. 50.4, 5. Some faces appear moſt orientally beautifull, when moſt inſtampt with ſorrow.
Bearing precious ſeed] Such as are hope and faith in the truth of Gods promiſes. Some render it ſeed of acquiſition, Cam…ſtrum Leo …ud… Bucer.ſuch as the poor ſeeds-man hath got, prece & precio, by praying and paying dear for it. Some, bearing a Seed-basket, or ſeedlop.
Shall doubtleſſe come again with rejoycing] Only hee muſt have patience, Jam. 5.7.
Bringing his ſheaves with him] Or,Act. & Mon. after ſome, their handfulls, even gripes of gladneſ…, as Philpet the Martyr rendreth it. Then ſhall Abraham the good Mower, ſaith Another, bind us up into ſheaves as pure corn▪ and fill his boſom full with us; carrying us into the Lords barn, to make a joyfull Harveſt in Heaven.