20 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Psalms 126 A Song of degrees. This psalm is generally thought to have been written by Ezra, or some good man returned from the Babylonish captivity, and on account of it: the inscription in the Syriac version of it, besides observing it to be a song of degrees or ascents, and without a name, is, "it is said of Haggai and Zechariah,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
It was with reference to some great and surprising deliverance of the people of God out of bondage and distress that this psalm was penned, most likely their return out of Babylon in Ezra's time. Though Babylon be not mentioned here (as it is, Ps. cxxxvii.) yet their captivity there was the most remarkable captivity both in itself and as their...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
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.’”
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. We could hardly believe it; we began to talk incoherently, as men do in their sleep. We were so carried away with joyful rapture that we did not know where we were: “we were like them that dream.”
Spurgeon - Treasury of David - Charles H. Spurgeon
Ver. 1. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Being in trouble, the gracious pilgrims remember for their comfort times of national woe which were succeeded by remarkable deliverances. Then sorrow was gone like a dream, and the joy which followed was so great that it seemed too good to be true, and they...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,.... Who before mourned, and hung their harps on the willows, and could not sing the Lord's song in a strange land; but now, as their hearts were filled, with joy, this was externally and visibly seen in their countenances, and expressed with their mouths and by outward gestures; it was so great, they could...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: “We wanted to express our joy, so laughter came, which is a natural, unartificial mode of expressing delight. Our mouth was filled with laughter. We not only laughed, but we laughed again and again, even as Abraham laughed when a son was promised to him, and as Sarah laughed...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, — We became Issacs, for he was the child of laughter. We laughed as Abraham did, for very joy of faith. Sometimes, laughter may become the holiest possible expression. It may be one of the meanest utterances of our nature, but it may also be one of the loftiest. These people not only laughed, but their...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
The Lord hath done great things for us,.... These words are generally supposed to be the words of the Jews, taking up those of the Gentiles, and confirming them; acknowledging that the Lord had done great things for them indeed; which, had they not owned, they would have been exceeding ungrateful; had they been silent concerning them, the stones...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. I heard a brother, at a prayer-meeting some time ago, say, “Whereof we desire to be glad.” That is not what these people said; and if the Lord has done great things for you, you are glad, not only do you desire to be glad, but you are so. It is always a pity to try to improve on Holy...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. See the difference between the outsider and the insider. The outsider says, “The Lord hath done great things for them.” Ah! but they who belong to God say, “The Lord hath done great things for us.” Oh, the privilege of being able to say “for us!” Dear hears, can you join with all the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Turn again our captivity, O Lord,.... This prayer for the return of the captivity shows that it was not as yet: though some think that this is a petition of those that were returned from captivity, for those of their brethren that stayed behind; who, enjoying the sweets of their liberty, pray for their brethren to come and share with them, that so...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. The river-beds, when the Southern torrents have been dried up, seem to be nothing but a gathering of stones and dust. Then comes a copious rain, bringing a sudden flush of water, and the captivity of the stream is gone. That is the meaning of the prayer: “Turn again our captivity, O...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. “Thou didst it once; do it again. Thou madest us to live; make us to live again. We sang then, O Lord; enable us to sing again, ‘Turn again our captivity.’ As the dry river-beds are suddenly made to be filled with water at the melting of the snow, so come, and fill our hearts, ‘as the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. A proverbial expression, encouraging faith in prayer put up for the return of the captivity, whether in a literal or spiritual sense. Praying or seeking the Lord is sowing in righteousness, Hosea 10:12; which is often attended with tears and weeping; the issue of them is not always seen soon: these, like...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Notice that word “doubtless.” If you have any doubt about it in your own case, may the Lord drive all your doubts away! When God says “doubtless”, we must not be doubtful: “He...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Take that for certain; lay it down as a Scripture proverb. When God sends us a wet time, and we have to sow in the moist foggy atmosphere, never mind; there are brighter days yet to come. We shall reap amid the sunbeams, and carry home our sheaves with joy.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,.... Which he sows in tears. This is but a repetition and confirmation of what is before expressed in different words; and may be applied, as to a praying saint, so to a faithful preacher of the word. The word is the precious seed which he bears, which he takes out of the granaries of the...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. “He shall doubtless come again with rejoicing.” Now, ye disconsolate workers, ye who have only a handful of seed, ye shall come back with an armful of sheaves. You shall come back rejoicing though you go forth now...