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Pentecost Season · Thanksgiving Day Canada · Year B

Psalm 126

Those Who Sow in Tears

November 25, 2027

The Sower, Jean-François Millet
The Sower, Jean-François Millet, 1850Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
A single figure striding down a hillside at dusk, face in shadow, arm out in mid-throw. It was attacked as politically dangerous when shown, for making a labourer monumental.Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy, and Paul tells the idle to work; this is the sowing part, and it is hard.Jean-François MilletA founder of the Barbizon school (1814-1875), who painted peasant labour at a scale previously reserved for history painting and was attacked as a political radical for it.Museum of Fine Arts, BostonOne of the oldest American museums, founded in 1870, with a collection that runs from Egyptian to contemporary and a famous Japanese holding.Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 6:25-33Mt 6:25-33
Epistle1 Tim. 2:1-71 Tm 2:1-7
Old TestamentJoel 2:21-27Jl 2:21-27
PsalterPs. 126Ps 126

Overview & Insights

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.” (Psalm 126:5)

“When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion” appears to refer to the restoration from Babylonian captivity. This event was obviously met with a response of laughter and songs of joy. The early postexilic period, however, was also marked by hardships, and so there was still the need to petition Yahweh to “restore our fortunes” (see further below). This historical setting accords well with the psalms of ascent in general and with the two preceding psalms in particular. As with most psalms, however, Psalm 126 is open to numerous, recurring situations. It can apply to any instance where God has restored believers, who, in turn, seek to ensure that the restoration be all that God has promised (see esp. the marginal readings in the NIV).

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Take it further: Psalm 126

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Psalm 126Working Preacher: Commentary on Ps 126 Working Preacher

Lutheran lectionary commentary on the psalm of restoration and joyful harvest.

Enduring Word: Psalm 126Enduring Word: Ps 126 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on sowing in tears and reaping in joy.

Background & Word Study

Sefaria: Psalms 126 (Hebrew)Sefaria: Ps 126 (Hebrew) Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and Jewish commentary on the song of ascents.

BibleHub: Psalm 126 InterlinearBibleHub: Ps 126 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew-English interlinear for word-level study of the psalm.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Psalm 126Catena: Ps 126 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on Psalm 126.

Questions preachers ask

What does Psalm 126 celebrate?

It remembers the return from exile, when mouths were filled with laughter, and prays God to restore his people again, promising joy to those who now sow in tears.

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