Title "It was like a dream" Psalm 126
This part is the seventh song of "The Song of Ascent to the Temple" (120-134). After returning from captivity, the people of Israel went up to the temple for the first time in 70 years, confessing that the fact was "just like an unbelievable dream," and they were happy and did not know what to do. In fact, the feelings of our members who came to the temple should be the same.
1. "As if we were dreaming" (1-3)
Immediately after liberation on August 15, 1945, Korean believers who were freed from the oppression of shrine worship and regained their religious freedom for the first time in 36 years must have felt the same surprise, thrill, and joy when they went up to the house of God. This is the feeling that a proud and shameless person who has lived in the shameful sins of idols, greed, lies and fornication all his life has when he comes up to God's house after receiving the grace of repentance and apology.
“As if we were dreaming” (1). When an unbelievable fact becomes reality, we express that it is like a dream. “Our mouths are full of laughter” (2). I love it so much that a smile comes out of my mouth. “We are glad” (3). True joy comes from experiencing the grace of salvation.
"When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion" (1). The return of the captives and the visit to the temple were not made by their merits. It wasn't because of the strength of the motherland, nor was it because of Babylon's favor. It was that God, the ruler of history, Himself had restored them. So they confessed it. It was an ambassador made by Jehovah. It was acknowledged by the nations, and so did they.
2. "Release our captives" (4)
Israel returning from captivity and going up to the temple were overflowing with thanksgiving and joy, but they had an earnest appeal to God. It was an earnest appeal to make it possible for the fellow prisoners of war who had not yet returned to return as soon as possible. A true believer is not one who rejoices only because of the grace he has received. They are people who appeal to God for their neighbors and the world who have not yet received the same grace. Just as the southern streams are filled with water and flow again in the rainy season, so the fellow captives prayed that they would flow again.
3. "He that sows in tears shall reap with joy" (5-6).
"He who sows here in tears" may refer to those who have not yet returned from captivity, or it may refer to those who have returned from captivity. Returning from captivity or coming up to the temple does not mean that everything has been accomplished. Rather, there will be more difficult and difficult things in the future. There may be more tears to shed in order to establish the kingdom of God. There have always been hardships and tears for the prophets and apostles. Therefore, there is no need for hasty optimism. Don't laugh too quickly. But don't be discouraged too quickly. Don't cry too easily. Christianity shows ultimate optimism along with pessimism. Plowing the field with weeping and sowing with tears shows that you will surely reap the sheaf with joy. Therefore, in order to laugh, you must first cry.