table of plenty

The Lord has done great things for us

psalm 126:3

He is good. He is always good.

and we are filled with joy.

Because of the works of His hands, we are what we are and I am who I am.

Completion comes from walking in the places He desired and ordains.

Some high and hard, some vast and bountiful.

And they all have mattered.

Oh, Jehovah! You are so marvelous.

I am truly filled with joy in You.

Spurgeon writes in his book, "The Treasury of David" about his psalm and says in part,

Let us avow our joy, and the reason of it, stating the "whereof" as well as the fact. None are so happy as those who arc newly turned and returned from captivity; none can more promptly and satisfactorily give a reason for the gladness that is in them, the Lord himself has blessed us, blessed us greatly, blessed us individually, blessed assuredly; and because of this we sing unto his name.

Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy

carrying sheaves with them.

-psalm 126:6

Sheaves of joy!

A harvest reaped after being sown in tears.

Isn't that amazing?

Spurgeon expounds on this verse writing,

Hence, present distress must not be viewed as if it would last for ever; it is not the end, by any means, but only a means to the end. Sorrow is our sowing, rejoicing shall be our reaping. If there were no sowing in tears there would be no reaping in joy. If we were never captives we could never lead our captivity captive. Our mouth had never been filled with holy laughter if it had not been first filled with the bitterness of grief. We must sow: we may have to sow in the wet weather of sorrow; but we shall reap, and reap in the bright summer season of joy. Let us keep to the work of this present sowing time, and find strength in the promise which is here so positively given us.

If we were never captive we would never lead our captivity captive...

That line made me stop.

Leading my captivity captive.

Oh, Lord. Let it be so!

Arms heavy-laden with sheaves.

A bountiful harvest.

Not just one.

Many.

For some reason, when the Lord worked this psalm in my heart,

I always pictured lavender sheaves.

Not sure why, it's just the beautiful picture He gave me.

The last verse is exposited thusly by Spurgeon:

Yes, good husbandman, doubtless you will gather sheaves from your sowing. Because the Lord has written doubtless, take heed that you do not doubt. No reason for doubt can remain after the Lord has spoken. You will return to this field—not to sow, but to reap; not to weep, but to rejoice; and after awhile you will go home again with nimbler step than today, though with a heavier load, for you shall have sheaves to bear with you. Your handful shall be so greatly multiplied that many sheaves shall spring from it; and you shall have the pleasure of reaping them and bringing them home to the place from which you went out weeping.