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 REAPING WITH SHOUTS OF JOY (PSALM 126)

The psalmist prays for the restoration of Israel’s fortunes.

REFLECTION 

The theme for our reflection is reaping with shouts of joy. The theme paints a picture of a farmer who sows in hardship, endures challenges and eventually is being rewarded with a bounty harvest by God therefore he reaps with shouts of joy. It is believed that Psalm 126 was written by the Psalmist to commemorate the redemptive hands of God in restoring the exiled Jews from Babylon. You may never appreciate freedom until you have been captured or imprisoned. You may never appreciate poverty until you become poor and everything you have is taken away from you. The Israelites had experienced both joy and hardship, freedom and slavery therefore they were very joyful when the Lord restored them from exile and brought them back to the land of prosperity. “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.” (Psalms 126:1-3). My dear friend, the God we serve is faithful, if only we shall remain faithful to Him, He will restore us and our mouth will be filled with testimony and songs of joy. 

It appears that Psalm 126: 1-3 was a testimony of what God did for His people in the past, the psalmist now prays for God’s intervention in the present and future of His people. The Psalmist acknowledges that the effort of man leads to nothing but with God’s enablement or empowerment success is assured therefore the psalmist prayed that “Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalms 126:4-6). My dear friend, some Christians in Africa are poor because they spend time praying for a harvest yet they have not planted any seed. As stewards of the earth, God has given us bodies, talents and gifts to prosper wherever we find ourselves yet many Christians especially in Africa think that by spending days and weeks at prayer camps or at the feet of so-called prophets or miracle workers they shall reap with shouts of joy. Unfortunately, it is these so-called prophets and self-acclaimed miracle workers who reap with joy at the detriment of those who have refused to work but ignorantly spend most of their precious but unredeemable time at these camps and places fighting witches and enemies while others are out there hustling as God fulfils His promise of success in their lives. My dear friend, let us learn from farmers and their way of life. We must understand that everyone in reality is a farmer. A farmer does not sit down and fold his or her arms and expect seeds to germinate on their own so that he or she will go and reap with shouts of joy. A Christian with faith in God, must have a plan, commit the said plan into the hands of God and start working towards achieving a goal with the plan. Your plan is synonymous with farming, keep working at it and pray about it, the road to success is never a smooth one but “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!  He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalms 126:5-6). In other words, do not be a lazy Christian, your faith must lead you into action and prayer, at God’s own appointed time, He will bless your hustle with shouts of joy. Shalom.

PRAYER 

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE HAVE NO POWER OF OWER OWN, WE FULLY DEPEND ON YOU DURING THE FARMING SEASON AND HARVEST SEASON. LET YOUR NAME BE GLORIFIED IN OUR LIVES. AMEN 

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)