Today’s reading is Psalm 126.
Strength From Looking Back
Years ago, Keith Green wrote a prayer/song which illustrates precisely the spiritual struggle of our pilgrim in Psalm 126.
My eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to you and dead to me
Frankly, it’s a hard song to sing in congregational worship precisely because I do know how I ought to be. I know I ought not be dry-eyed, old-faithed, hard-hearted, with cold praying. I don’t even want to admit I ever feel like that. But I do. Sadly, I do have times when I feel like the fountain of faith and blessing has dried up. I’m not sure I want to stick with it anymore.
Our pilgrim is in that time in Psalm 126. However, instead of giving up, he writes this psalm. The first half of the psalm gives our first step in hanging on to our Lord and staying on the pilgrimage.
In this prayer for God to “restore our fortunes,” the pilgrim looks back to earlier times of restoration. He recalls the times when his mouth was full of laughter. He remembers the shouts of joy. He reminds himself of the times when even the Gentiles said YHWH had done great things for him.
I love how the first half of this psalm ends. It’s almost like the psalmist builds himself up. He recalls others saying, “The LORD has done great things for them.” It is then as if the psalmist is saying, “You know what? That’s right. The LORD really has done great things for us.” Therefore, he ends with, “We are glad.”
In the dry times, look back. Recall the blessings. Remember the restoration. Meditate on the salvation God has given you. Think on the past victories. The same God who did that for you then is still, like the mountains which were around Jerusalem in Psalm 125, surrounding you. He will bring fresh restoration.
Praise the Lord!
What blessings and victories can you remember today?
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 126.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 126 admonish you?
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