Psalm Meditation 986
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 12, 2019

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)

There are events in our lives that do more for us than would appear possible from the outside. Not only is there a restoration of something we can point to, something we can hold in our hands, there is a renewal of our faith; our faith in God and our faith in those around us. At least our faith in God is renewed and that gives us time to find renewal of faith in those, most of those, around us. Those events lead us to rejoice in ways that are broader and deeper than we are usually ready to express.

We may express our rejoicing in external ways, including the laughter and shouting the psalmist lifts up. We may express joy in dancing and jumping around. And we may express our joy internally, in a way that comes really close to popping out of our skin. In whatever way we express our joy, we know that God has had a hand in it, and we are quick to acknowledge that God has done great things for us.

When our lives change for the better, whether the change occurs in a moment, or a season, we can give thanks to God for the change of fortune. Some will see the change as something deserved that has finally been delivered, some will see the change as the product of hard work produced by personal effort, some will see the change as a gift from God. Those who see God at work may have put in a lot of effort and still give the bulk of the credit to God. “The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.”

May 7, 2019
LCM lcrsmanifold@att.net
http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/