But God in His providential care of the church will not let it disappear off the face of the earth. The story of Psalm 126. Q. B.C. When a plant withers, it retains seeds that will germinate later. Whole Psalm. Unbelievers who are warming to the gospel detect the conviction of the truth, because it is present, because it is manifest in the words and the attitudes and demeanor of the Christians there. The seeds themselves retain hope even in these times of grief. In New Testament language, when unbelievers hear the convicting Word of Truth preached and sung, they fall on their faces and worship God, confessing that God is in the midst of these people (1 Cor. The results will make you jump for joy! A. Questions: 1. Audio. 1. What does "Psalms" mean in Hebrew? Generously provided by, all the volumes in the BE Bible Study Series, When God returned His people to their homeland after the Babylonian captivity, even the Gentiles neighbors confessed, “The, How can you apply the principle of sowing and reaping (. Wherefore we take this Psalm to be a prophecy of the redemption that should come by Jesus Christ, and the publishing of the gospel, whereby the kingdom of Christ is advanced, and death and the devil with all the powers of darkness are vanquished. Q. All rights reserved. family, discipleship, and education. What makes this such a joyful time? 5. A. New International Version (NIV), Warren Wiersbe BE Bible Study Series – Psalm 126 Questions, Copyright © Warren W. Wiersbe. A. Psalm 126:5-6 = Do it anyway. How can we be sure that Christ’s church will never completely die out? Have you ever had such a wonderful experience that for a moment you wondered if it could be real? What has the Lord done in your life that might bring a similar response from unbelievers who know you? 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. We cannot deny that God has done great things for us. When the L ord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Someone has said that there are 126 psychological experiences—I don’t know how they arrived at that number—but I do know that all of them are recorded in the Book of Psalms. A Song of Ascents. 2. From the first three verses, what kinds of things did they feel and experience? Is there any order to the Psalms? Thursday. After all of their rebellion, and the various tribulations God had brought upon His people over the previous 600 years, now it was apparent that the Lord was willing to “give it another try.” This illustrates the covenantal faithfulness of God. Tuesday. What two groups recognize the goodness of God upon the people of God (according to verses 2 and 3)? A singing church provides the greatest testimony to the world around it. Click HERE to print the Verses of the Day for Psalms 126-130. We hope for future rejoicing, knowing that the seeds will one day bear fruit again. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. However depressing these times may be for the church, the seeds themselves bear hope. churches around the world through our daily radio programs, 126:2 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.” 126:3 The Lord has done great things for us; We are glad. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Some day, shallow and man-centered worship will be replaced with God-centered, worship-in-Spirit-and-truth again. The source of our joy is God’s work. In what places is the church in decline today, and where is the church experiencing tremendous growth? But in 586 B.C., King Cyrus sent them home to Judea. But men and women of faith were still hoping in God, confident that He would restore His people. We can understand this joy when we understand their pain (see Ps 137). 31:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 1. Family Discussion Questions: 1. These are sad and difficult days, and hopes grow dim. A. Perhaps the seeds will go with missionaries and exiles from the Western countries into other nations that have less access to the Gospel of Christ. To print the 50 Discussion Questions for Psalms 101-150 – Click Here. Praises Q. Do you remember the little girl Rhoda in the Book of Acts? How easy is that for you? What two groups recognize the goodness of God upon the people of God (according to verses 2 and 3)? Awesomely, we might add. Every thought, every impulse, every emotion that sweeps over the soul is recorded in this book. God wasn’t finished with His people at this point, for they would come back to the land with Ezra and Nehemiah. It is the only book that contains every experience of a human being. But other Bible students think that the psalm is about Sennacherib. Then what is the point of telling us we sin if it won't be held against us? For 70 years the *Jews were in Babylon. These are times of great celebration, when God has restored a remnant of the church and a remnant of authentic faith. This Week’s Verses of the Day: (Leaders: You can use these images in your groups by using right click and “save as” or screen shoting them.) The Book of Psalms presents the Christian life in vivid color. to pass on the faith to the next generation through the biblical And during times of decline in the church, it appears to be dying. Given their joy and their confidence in the resurrection of Christ, God must have done great things for them! When we truly reflect joy by exuberant and loud singing, the world cannot help but notice. Monday. 1-150, Out Loud Not the most moving reading, but a nice way to hear what they sound like out loud. discipleship resources, the Christian Curriculum Project, and Psalm 126 Questions Psalm 126 When God returned His people to their homeland after the Babylonian captivity, even the Gentiles neighbors confessed, “The Lord has done great things for them” (v. 2 nkjv). They may produce more fruit in these foreign nations than in the apostate, hard-hearted Western world. 14:25). We equip families and Does God record the sins we act out? Q. Every dying plant retains the seeds, and the “dead” seeds were carried into the Babylonian captivity. Here were the questions from Psalm 126 that we studied a few weeks ago: Psalm 126 -- A song of ascents. means "years Before Christ came to the earth". 1. When God’s people sense that reformation is actually happening in their church community, they experience a great sense of joy.