PSALMS LESSON 135
We will begin this lesson by giving the 126th Psalm in metre.
THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE
Chapter 126
Verse 1. "When Zion's bondage God turned back, As men that dreamed
were we. Then filled with laughter was our mouth, Our tongue
with melody;"
Verse 2. "The heathen people said, The Lord Great things for them
hath wrought. The Lord hath done great things for us, Whence
joy to us brought."
Verse 3. "As streams of water in the south, Our bondage, Lord,
recall. Who sow in tears, a reaping time Of joy enjoy they
shall."
Verse 4. "That man who, bearing precious seed, In going forth doth
mourn, He, doubtless, bringing back his sheaves, Rejoicing
shall return."
We will now begin the verse by verse study of chapter 126 of
Psalms. Psalms 126:1 "{A Song of degrees.} When the LORD turned again
the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream."
This is a glorious redemption. It is so wonderful that they are
asking themselves, could it be true or is this a dream?. Remember,
Zion symbolizes the church. After the time of darkness and falling
away, there will be a time when the spirit will be poured out on all
the church, and all shall know the Lord from the least to the
greatest. This is not speaking of this being for all the world, but
for the church {Zion}. Acts 2:17 "And it shall come to pass in the
last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall
see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" Acts 2:18 "And on
my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my
Spirit; and they shall prophesy:"
Psalms 126:2 "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."
You can see, in this verse, the separation from the non-believers
and the church. The non-believers are spoken of as the heathen. When
you have been freed from such great oppression as this is speaking of,
it would cause great joy and laughter. Joy in your heart will
stimulate singing from a heart too full to contain the joy. The world
will look on, and think what wonderful things the Lord has done for
them.
Psalms 126:3 "The LORD hath done great things for us; [whereof]
we are glad."
They are giving credit where credit is due. The Lord delivered
them, when they could not deliver themselves. The joy and singing is
coming from a thankful heart and directed to their Helper, the Lord.
Psalms 126:4 "Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in
the south."
The joy they had been singing about, was remembering the
wonderful things the Lord had done in the past. Now, they are asking
the Lord to do it, again.
Psalms 126:5 "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."
We must not stop sowing the seed of the Word, even though there
seems to be no one listening. Plant the seed anyway. When the rain
comes, the seed will sprout and grow. There is joy in heaven over one
sinner who comes to Christ.
Psalms 126:6 "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious
seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves
[with him]."
Ministers, we must not worry about the harvest, or the growth of
the seed {Word}. Our job is to plant the seed, God sends the rains,
and after they are ripe unto the harvest, the Lord will send the
reaper to bring the souls produced into His barn in heaven. The
harvest of the souls of believers is very near. God is the Lord of the
harvest. We are told to look and see that the fields are ripe unto
harvest. When the wheat is harvested, then the rejoicing comes.
We will continue this lesson by giving the 127th Psalm in metre.
Chapter 127
Verse 1. "Except the Lord do build the house, The builders lose their
pain: Except the Lord the city keep, The watchmen watch in
vain."
Verse 2. "'Tis vain for you to rise betimes, Or late from rest to
keep, To feed on sorrow's bread; so gives He his beloved
sleep."
Verse 3. "Lo, children are God's heritage, To parents his reward. The
sons of youth as arrows are, For strong men's hands
prepared."
Verse 4. "O happy is the man that hath His quiver filled with those;
They, unashamed, within the gate Shall speak unto their
foes."
Psalms 127:1 "{A Song of degrees for Solomon.} Except the LORD
build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD
keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain."
I believe this to be a Psalm written by David to his son Solomon.
David knew not to build the house himself, because God wanted a man of
peace to build the temple. It was God's idea for Solomon to build the
temple. Even if Solomon knew that God wanted him to build the temple,
it would have failed, if he had not taken God's instruction on how to
build it. The things we do ourself, without God's authorization,
seldom work. Notice, also, that God wanted Solomon to build the house,
but Solomon had to do the work. God gave the instructions to Solomon,
and Solomon built it. It took both things to make it work. A very good
example of this very same thing was Noah. God gave Noah the wisdom and
instructions to build the ark, and Noah built it. We know that the
tower of Babel was not by God's instructions, and it was never
finished. We know that guards around a city are of no use at all,
unless God guards the city. The great city of Babylon {heavily
fortified} was overthrown, even though it seemed impossible. Guards
are just fine to have, but the best guard we can have is the Lord and
His angels.
Psalms 127:2 "[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up
late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved
sleep."
You can try to do all you can do in the flesh. You can stay up
late and get up early, but it will not get done, unless the Lord is in
it.
Psalms 127:3 "Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and]
the fruit of the womb [is his] reward."
This has to be David saying, how blessed he has been in God
through his son Solomon. David had wanted the temple built, but God
would not allow him to do it. He will know of the building of the
temple by his son. As we have said in many of these lessons, the most
important thing you can leave to your children is the knowledge to
know how to become sons of God. David loved God, and it was his desire
that his family would love God, also. He got his desire in his son
Solomon. Wealth and fame are no good, except you have children to pass
them down through.
Psalms 127:4 "As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so
[are] children of the youth."
These arrows in his hand symbolized the fact that he did not have
to be in hand to hand combat to win the war. The arrows could go and
fight for him. This is saying, that even though David would not be
able to build the temple, he could send his son to do what he could
not. It was one generation away from him. but the job was done.
Psalms 127:5 "Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of
them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies
in the gate."
In a battle, it was important to have many arrows to go and do
the fighting at a distance. This is speaking of the children and
grandchildren of David. He was pleased to have many children. This
could, also, be speaking prophetically of Jesus who certainly had many
followers. This family would have been great indeed.
Questions 135
1. What is verse 1 of chapter 126 speaking of?
2. What does Zion symbolize?
3. Quote Acts chapter 2 verse 17.
4. In verse 2, their mouth was filled with what?
5. Who are the heathen?
6. Quote Psalms chapter 126 verse 3.
7. The joy and singing is coming from a _________ heart.
8. They that sow in tears, shall reap in ____.
9. What usually happens to the seed we sow in tears?
10. What is verse 6 saying to the ministers?
11. Quote chapter 127 verse 1.
12. Who wrote the 127 Psalm? Who did he write it to?
13. What was the purpose of it?
14. What was necessary, besides Solomon's desire to build the temple
for it to be built?
15. What is a good example of God giving someone something to build,
and them building it?
16. What is an example of someone building without God's blessing, and
it failing?
17. What city, that seemed impossible to attack because of its
fortification, was overthrown?
18. What is verse 2 in chapter 127 speaking of?
19. Lo, ________ are the heritage of the Lord.
20. Who wanted to build the temple, but God would not allow him to?
21. Who did God instruct to build the temple?
22. Why did God choose him over his father?
23. What is the greatest heritage you can give your children?
24. Wealth and fame are no good except what?
25. What is verse 4 saying, about the arrows?
26. Quote chapter 127 verse 5.
27. What is it speaking of prophetically?
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