Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 3 · Psalms · Psalm 126
PSAL. CXXVI.
WHEN the Lord turned the Captivity of Zion, we were as they Vers. 1.that dream, Vulg. Quasi consolati fuimus, but Hebr. it is, Dreame, as Jerome also acknowledgeth. This is also a Song of Degrees, or Ascensions the seventh, wherein it is yet ascended higher, then in Psal. 125. viz, to Heaven.
For what, saith August. is the turning again of our Captivity, but our being August.brought out of the Captivity of sin to Heaven, our Countrey? For till this be done, we are held captives in a strange country, for which we are often said to Rom. 7. Ephes. 4. 8.be Pilgrims and strangers, and to be lead captive by the Law of sin. But Christ came and Lead Captivity Captive, when having suffered death for us, he ascended up into Heaven. Man was at the first made righteous, and placed in Paradise; but by being through the subtilty of the Serpent drawn to sin, he was taken captive and put out; but then is his Captivity turned, when turning to Christ, by Faith and Repentance, he beginneth to enter into Paradise again; by which name Christ setteth forth Heaven, saying to the theif upon the Crosse, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. But a full Col. 3.Entrance to dwell there is not made, till death: we now by Faith fit in heavenly places, and have our Conversation in Heaven, Phil. 3. 20. but then we take actuall possession.
We wereas they that dream this saith Cal. is spoken, to shew so high a degree Calvin.of Joy as a man waking is uncapable of, & can see & feel it here only, as one dreaming, to whom, as to a man in an exstasy, are shewed things unspeakable, 2 Cor. 12. 1 Cor. 2. 9.& never…een with mortal eys; for who ever waking saw whilst he was in the body the joyes of Heaven? yea it is said, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, &c. but some in dreams have seen them, and therefore it is said, Were as they that dreame. Jerom saith, that by the returning of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity here spoken of, according to the Letter, deliverance from the Hieron.captivity of sin by Christ is set forth; as also Ainsworth noteth it is Esa. 10. 21. 22. see the like. Psal. 14. 7. 68. 19. Deut. 30. 3.
Our mouth was filled with Laughter, and our Tongue with singing: When Vers. 2. August.the mouth is full saith Augustine: the tongue is silent, how is it then here said thus? and he answereth, A mouth and tongue are ascribed unto the Soule, and so the mouth being filled, the tongue singeth, as it is said, Be filled with the spirit, singing to your selves in Hymnes, &c. making Melody to Epehs. 5. 19.the Lord in your hearts.
Then sayd they amongst the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them. Which is spoken to the reproach of such Jews, as were not affected Vers. 3.with Gods mercies, when the very Heathen were.
Turn our Captivity, as the Rivers in the South: That is, turn those that Vers. 4.are not yet converted as the state of them that are converted is set forth by this Phrase, Because, because the South Country, according to the Scripture, was very dry, and when Grace cometh, Water aboundeth, as it were, in dry places, as John. 6. 38. To which Effect, the Cald. Paraph. speaketh.
They that sow in tears shal reape in joy, he that goeth forth weeping, bearing Vers. 5.precious seed, &c. This is spoken, first with reference to the Jews, carryed into Captivity, which could not be without abundance of sorrow; yet in regard of the promise made by Ieremy, of returning again, it was but as a going out to sow, which though it were in sorrow, yet as the Husbandman sowing sometimes in hard weather, reapeth a plentifull Crop, whereof he hath great joy, as Esa 9. So he meaneth that they should, when they reaped the fruit of Ieremiah his Prophesying, do it with exceeding great joy. For precious seed here spoken of, the word foreign is used, which signifieth to draw out, as when a man makes a little seed, corne being very dear, to serve to sow a great deal of Ground; so that to go according to the proper sense of the word, it is, that guides his hand so in sowing, that he goeth far in sowing a little seed by drawing it out to the uttermost, as having but little. And thus it shall be with all the Faithfull, by patient suffering in this world; they sow so, as that they shall reap with unspeakeable joy in the world to come; for so quiet suffering of asslictions is compared, I am. 3. 18. And this is here set forth by the Jews return at the end of seventy years from Babylon, signisying confusion; because that in seven dayes, or weekes consisting of seven, this world shall come to an end, and we shall come out of confusion, to which we are now continually subject, and be put into most decent order for evermore.