Songs of Joy

Psalm 126:1-6

Key Verse 126:6

1. Read verse 1. What does "a song of ascents" indicate about the purpose (or use) of this psalm? (Exodus 23:17; Deuteronomy 16:16; Psalm 24:3; Psalm 16:11)

2. Read verse 1 again. Who are "the captives"? What would it be like to live as a "captive"? What does "Zion" refer to? (2Ch 5:1-2; Hebrew 12:22)

3. Read verses 1-3. How is the life in Zion different from the life in captivity? Think about what was said about the nations in verse 2. What does this saying indicate about the desire of the nations? (Isaiah 2:1-3) Who does "us" refer to in verse 3?

4. Read verse 4. What does this prayer request indicate about the prospect of life in Zion? 

5. Compare verses 5-6 with verses 1-4. Why does the Psalmist suddenly talk about sowing in tears (or going out weeping carrying seed to sow)? (Cf. Exodus 19:5-6; John 15:16)

6. Read verses 5-6 again. What does "seed to sow" mean? (Luke 8:11; John 1:1-4) What does the expression "sow in tears" or "goes out weeping" indicate about the reality of sowing the seed? Why is sowing made so difficult (or challenging)?

7. Think about the "seed" turning into "sheaves". How are the two different? What needs to be done until one can see the seed turning to "sheaves"? Yet what motivates a sower to sow?