Psalm 126: 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. 5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.(NRSV)
The children who live in our area here in South Texas have two special days when they get free candy. Or I should say at least two days. Halloween and the parade kicking off the livestock show in Robstown, Texas. The scripture picture for today shows my grandson, Caleb Eradio Garcia, not doing a tribal dance, but running to where the candy has fallen. Folks on floats toss candy to children and for many that's the highlight of the parade. I thought this photo went well with verse 3 of this psalm. This psalm is both a remembrance and a prelude to rejoicing, remembering what God had done and what the writer hopes God will do again for God's people. After a time away from God and from their land, when they returned it seemed like a dream, but their mouths and tongues were filled with joy and laughter. The shout was "The Lord has done great things for them." Then it is a personal statement, "The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Then the prayer, restore our fortunes/blessings, O Lord in a marvelous way. Turn our tears into joy and the tears of those laboring into shouts of praise as they reap the harvest of their labors.
Our God is a God of involvement in our lives. God is aware of our needs and sorrows and God has delivered us in the past from these and will do it again. God is a God who listens to and answers prayers, we are to stay connected with God in our sharing and expecting of prayers. The psalmist was a person of faith, as we should be, trusting and expecting that in all things, God will be with us and share with us just what we need. May it be so in your life.
PRAYER: Lord, may these words of the Psalm be my words of prayer for whatever it may be that I am facing. I trust in You and thank You for the times You have delivered me and blessed me; come now and bless me again. If I am crying tears of sorrow or frustration while working, share with me what I need to turn those cries into laughter and shouts of joy. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Eradio Valverde
