Psalms 126:1

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Psalms 126:1.-Thanksgiving for the deliverance out of Babylon already vouchsafed to Zion, to her joy, so that the pagan spoke of the great things which the Lord had done for her (Psalms 126:1); Lord complete the deliverance by not letting the work be interrupted. Faith anticipates that the work of rebuilding the temple, now carried on with tears because of the Samaritan foe (Ezra 3:1; Ezra 4:1; Ezra 5:1;...

1._When Jehovah brought back the captivity of Zion, etc_. It is unnatural and forced to suppose, with some expositors, that this is a prediction of what was to come. For my part I have no doubt that the Psalm was composed upon the return of the Jewish people from the Babylonish captivity; and for this reason I have translated the verb בשוב _, beshub, _in the past tense. Now, whoever was the author of it, (88) whether one of the Levites or one of the Prophets, he affirms that the manner of their deliverance was too wonderful to be attributed to fortune, in order to lead the faithful to the conclusion that the prophecy of Jeremiah, which had assigned seventy years as the term of the captivity, was truly fulfilled. (Jeremiah 25:12, and Jeremiah 29:10.

1-3 It is good to observe how God's deliverances of the church are for us, that we may rejoice in them. And how ought redemption from the wrath to come, from the power of sin and of Satan, to be valued! The sinner convinced of his guilt and danger, when by looking to a crucified Saviour he receives peace to his conscience, and power to break off his sins, often can scarcely believe that the prospect which opens to him is a reality....

PSALM CXXVI _The joy of the Israelites on their return from captivity, and_ _the effect their deliverance had upon the heathen_, 1-3. _The prayer which they had offered up_, 4. _The inference they draw from the whole_, 5, 6. NOTES ON PSALM CXXVI This Psalm is not of David, has no title in the Hebrew or any of the Versions, and certainly belongs to the close of the captivity. It might have been composed by _Haggai_ and _Zechariah_, as the _Syriac_ supposes; or by _Ezra_, according to others. It is beautiful, and highly descriptive of the circumstances which it represents. Verse...

WHEN THE LORD TURNED AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF ZION - Margin, as in Hebrew, “returned the returning of Zion.” The Hebrew word which is rendered in the text captivity means properly return; and then, those returning. The ancient versions render it captivity. The reference clearly is to those who were returning to Zion, and the psalmist fixes his eye on them as returning, and immediately says that it was the Lord who had thus restored them. The whole was to be traced to God. WE WERE LIKE THEM THAT DREAM - The Latin Vulgate and the Septuagint render this, “we were comforted.” The meaning is, “It seemed like a dream; we could hardly realize that it was so; it was so marvelous, so good, so full of joy, that we could scarcely believe it was real.” This state of mind is not uncommon, when, in sudden and overpowering joy, we ask whether it can be real; whether it is not all a dream. We fear that it...

EXPOSITION This psalm seems to be a joint thanksgiving and complaint, composed soon after the return from the Captivity. It has been said to present an "enigmatical contrast" (Cheyne) in its two portions. But as the "complaint" is first subdued, and then merges into a joy-song (Psalms 126:5, Psalms 126:6), there is really no want of harmony in the composition. The double aspect of the Return—its "bitter-sweetness"—impressed itself upon the nation from an early date (see Ezr 3:9 -14). PSALMS 126:1 WHEN THE LORD TURNED AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF ZION; literally, _when the Lord turned again the returning of Zion_;_ i_._e_. "brought back those who r

WHEN THE LORD TURNED AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF ZION,.... Or returned the Jews from their captivity in Babylon; who are called Zion, from the city of David, built on Mount Zion, which was in Judea, and adjoined to Jerusalem, the metropolis of the kingdom; and because they were the godly who were concerned for Zion in a spiritual sense, or the church of God, and the interest of religion, whose spirits the Lord stirred up to come out of Babylon, upon the proclamation by Cyrus, when those that were more worldly and carnal stayed behind; as also because the chief mercy in returning the captives was the rebuilding the temple on Mount Zion, and the restoration of religious worship; which gave the religious captives in Babylon great concern, Psalms 137:1. This deliverance of the captives, though it was by Cyrus as an instrument, yet it was the Lord's work; which he employed him in, and stirred him...

This is one of the «Songs of Degrees.» They are supposed to have been sung as the pilgrim caravan was going up to the temple at Jerusalem. Every time they halted and pitched their tents, they sang a Psalm. If carefully read, it will be found that these Psalms exhibit a real advance in experience. For instance, the keynote of the 125 th is stability, while that of the 126 th is joy, and especially joyful hope. Each one appears to advance a stage higher than the one that precedes it. Psalms 126:1. _When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream._ «It seemed too good to be true. We were in a delirium of joy: ‘We were like them that dream.' Our slumber had been profound; we thought that God had altogether forgotten us; but when we found that he was coming to our rescue, ‘we were like them that dream.'»...

A SONG OF DEGREES Literally, "of ascents." Perhaps chanted by the people as they went up to Jerusalem to the feasts. See, for example (Psalms 112:1); (Psalms 112:2)....

PSALM 120-134 The Psalms of Degrees Fifteen brief Psalms follow, called songs of degrees, or, ascents. They were in all probability used by Israel going up to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the feasts of the Lord--”Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” They are indeed Psalms of “the goings-up” for we rise higher and higher as we read through them. Prophetically they give us again the steps from trial and suffering to the glorious consummation. As they are so simple in language and construction no lengthy annotations are needed. Psalms 120:1 begins with distress, picturing again the suffering of the righteous godly remnant. In Psalms 121:1 the Keeper of Israel, the Covenant Keeping God, is revealed