We were walking out with open hands
Leaving trails of tears on desert sand
Steps uncertain, hearts beat wild
As You lead us home from exile
Is it happening
Our mirage of hope made true
Desert streams are flowing
Zion’s joy made new
Thought we were dreaming when You brought us home
Laughter like a river overflowed
It watered all You planted in the tears we sowed
Now we reap with songs of joy
Now we reap Your songs of joy
Now we reap Your songs of joy
Restore us now like desert rain
Streams revive our hearts again
Those who carried seeds in pain
Come back singing songs of joy
Is it happening
Our mirage of hope made true
Desert streams are flowing
Zion’s joy made new
Thought we were dreaming when You brought us home
Laughter like a river overflowed
It watered all You planted in the tears we sowed
Now we reap with songs of joy
Now we reap Your songs of joy
Now we reap Your songs of joy
Our mouths are filled with laughter
Our tongues with songs of praise
Even the nations whisper
“Adonai has made a way”
Adonai has done great things for us
Adonai, we bless Your Name
Adonai has done great things for us
Adonai, we sing Your praise
Thought we were dreaming when You brought us home
Laughter like a river overflowed
It watered all You planted in the tears we sowed
Now we reap with songs of joy
Now we reap Your songs of joy
Now we reap Your songs of joy
Thought we were dreaming when You brought us home
Laughter like a river overflowed
It watered all You planted in the tears we sowed
Now we reap with songs of joy
Now we reap Your songs of joy
Now we reap Your songs of joy
(Adonai has done great things for us)
(Now we sing Your songs of joy)
“They who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy.”
Read Psalm 126 →Close Psalm 126 ↑
1A song of ascents. When the LORD restores the fortunes of Zion —we see it as in a dream—
2our mouths shall be filled with laughter, our tongues, with songs of joy. Then shall they say among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them!”
3The LORD will do great things for us and we shall rejoice.
4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like watercourses in the Negeb.
5They who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy.
6Though he goes along weeping, carrying the seed-bag, he shall come back with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves.
I was reading Psalm 126, where it talks about Israel returning from exile in Babylon. For seventy years they had lived as captives in a foreign land, but suddenly God brought His deliverance, redeemed them from exile, and brought them home to Zion, the land He had promised their fathers. They couldn't believe it. It felt like a dream. Suddenly, their tearful mourning turned into songs of joyful praise.
It made me think about my own life and the seasons I've been through when life feels like exile, where nothing around me is working out the way that I think it should. I'm in a place that feels like prison, and it feels like God is absent. Often, there have been times where suddenly He takes me out of the place that I had been in for so long, and He brings redemption in a way that only He can do. What else can I do but sing songs of joy?