THOSE WHO SOW IN TEARS SHALL REAP WITH SHOUTS OF JOY: Psalm 126

BIG IDEA: How should those who have been redeemed by Christ respond to his deliverance? There are four answers to this question in verses 1-3. How should those who are still awaiting redemption by Christ think and act as they wait? There are three answers to this question in verses 4-6.

I. HOW SHOULD THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REDEEMED BY CHRIST RESPOND TO HIS DELIVERANCE? (Psalm 126:1-3)

I) We should think “this is too good to be true!” (Psalm 126:1).

Think how Christ has redeemed us from (I) the penalty and power of sin, (II) enslavement to sin, and from (III) past sufferings.

II) Our mouths should be filled with laughter and our tongues joy (Psalm 126:2).

III) We should praise the Lord by telling of his great works for us (Psalm 126:2-3a).

IV) We should praise the Lord by telling of the results of his great works for us (Psalm 126:3b).

II. HOW SHOULD THOSE STILL AWAITING REDEMPTION BY CHRIST THINK AND ACT AS THEY WAIT? (Psalm 126:4-6)

I) We should cry out to God in prayer (Psalm 126:4).

II) Though our eyes may be filled with tears, we must not lose heart because we have great promises (Psalm 126:5).

(I) You who need to be redeemed from the penalty and power of sin—forgiven and reconciled to God: Can you weep for your sins—your rebellion to God? Do you want to be forgiven? Do you want to be embraced in love? Do you want to have eternal life that begins now and last forever? “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40). If you will sow in tears of repentance and go to Christ in faith, he will deliver you and you shall reap with shouts of joy.

(II) You who need to be freed from certain sins that constantly get the mastery over you: can you weep for those sins? Can you, like Peter after he denied Christ, “Go out and weep bitterly”? May God give us all a true sorrow for and hatred of the the indwelling sins we still seek to put to death daily. May he also give us hope in verse 5: “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” If you are truly in Christ, you will not weep for your indwelling sin forever! It is sanctification time now, but the time of glorification is coming and you shall reap with shouts of joy.

(III) You who need to be delivered from present afflictions, though you weep now you will reap shouts of joy. There is no flood of suffering Jesus’ hands will not dam up; there are no harms he will not heal; there is no sadness his face will not cause to melt away; there are no tears sown that he will not make grow into shouts of joy.

III) You must do your duty, even through tears, for you will reap if you do not give up (Psalm 126:6).

CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS

I) Do not let your tears keep you from sowing good works. II) You must not let your weeping keep you from proclaiming. III) You cannot let your suffering choke out your duties.