“1 When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad. 4 Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South. 5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. 6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” PSALM 126

How do you endure through adversity? 2 Cor 11:22ff; 2 Tim 4:5; Phil 3:7-14
The people had been exiled from family, home, city, religion. Short of being tortured to death, their conditions couldn’t have been worse. Now they are restored.

The reaping in “joy” is in singing, literally. This joy was realized in Ezra 6:22.
What does it mean to “sow in tears”? The tears suggest what?
The farmer feels the weight of uncertainty and sorrow when the ground is too wet or too dry, too hot or too cold. But he sows nevertheless.
Read verses 5-6. What is meant by sowing and bringing your bag of seed?
I think I love this verse. It reminds us to keep functioning, building, and moving when the temptation is to pull down the shades and take a sleeping pill. Even when times are hard it is important to keep laboring and trusting in God.

Remember in the parable of the soils, which one fell away and why? And why was the other soil unproductive?

Faithful sowing of good in bad and difficult times will bring a reward. “And remember that God is not mocked; for whatever a man soweth that shall he reap”, Ga 6:7-9.

Are any of the beatitudes on point? Mt 5
Everyone has an application. The parent, the preacher, the Elder and teach, the farmer and business owner, they all receive a reward when they endure.

How about us? Do we understand the captivity we were under due to sin and the freedom we enjoy under Christ?

There should be the hope in us all that God will hear us and bless us. “If God is for us, who is against us?” Rom.8:31

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