Day 180: Psalms 126-130

(The previous post covered the first six of the fifteen songs of Ascents. Here were five more songs of Ascents...)

Psalm 126

A Song of Ascents.

¹ When Jehovah brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream.
² Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them.

(The Jews who returned to Jerusalem were filled with gladness and praise. They declared to other nations the great things God did for them.)

³ Jehovah hath done great things for us, Whereof we are glad.
⁴ Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah, As the streams in the South.

(Since not all of the Jews returned to Israel at once, the request for other Jews to be returned from captivity was made.)

⁵ They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
⁶ He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him.




Psalm 127

A Song of Ascents; of Solomon.

¹ Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.

(Laboring man's way was vain (unprofitable). When God built, it was profitable and long term.)

² It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.
³ Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; And the fruit of the womb is his reward.

(Children were a reward, a possession. This explained why Job's children were taken from him (Job 1:19) when his possessions (HAVE) were taken by Satan.)

⁴ As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth.
⁵ Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

(Children ought to be seen as an opportunity to invest into God’s Kingdom. A quiver was meant to hold five arrows. Some people used this verse to state that God's Will was for every family to have five children.)




Psalm 128

A Song of Ascents.

¹ Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways.

(Those who revered God and walked in His ways were blessed.)

² For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

(The reason they were blessed was because they would eat (enjoy the fruit) of the work of God through them.)

³ Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table.

(Wives ought to bring profitable effects to a marriage.)

⁴ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed That feareth Jehovah.
⁵ Jehovah bless thee out of Zion: And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
⁶ Yea, see thou thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel.




Psalm 129

A Song of Ascents

¹ Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up, Let Israel now say,
² Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up: Yet they have not prevailed against me.

(The affliction from our enemies ought not have power over you.)

³ The plowers plowed upon my back; They made long their furrows.
⁴ Jehovah is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

(God was Righteous.)

⁵ Let them be put to shame and turned backward, All they that hate Zion.
⁶ Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth before it groweth up;
⁷ Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

(A request for the enemies of Zion/Jerusalem to be turned away from their destruction.)

⁸ Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; We bless you in the name of Jehovah.




Psalm 130

A Song of Ascents.

¹ Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.
² Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.

(The psalmist cried out to God in his despair.)

³ If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.

(All men sinned but with God there was forgiveness which ought to cause us to fear (revere, respect) Him.)

⁵ I wait for Jehovah, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope.
⁶ My soul waiteth for the Lord More than watchmen wait for the morning; Yea, more than watchmen for the morning.

(Watchmen wait for the morning with anticipation. The psalmist waited on God more than a watchman waited for his shift to be complete.)

⁷ O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption.
⁸ And he will redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

(This post covered five more of the fifteen songs of Ascents. There were still four more...)

Day 181