Psalm 126. Trinity XXVII

Psalm 126 6024

27. Trinitatis. Trinity xxvii 75 

Chrysogonus, Martyr 303 

24. November 2024

1. ℣ All the glory of the King daughter from within in golden fringes:  

℟ Surrounded by her companions, the virgins who closely follow her, shall be brought to the king. (Psalm 44,14-15 vul lxx).

Omnis gloria eius filiæ regis ab intus, in fimbriis aureis: circumamicta varietatibus adducentur regi virgines post eam proximæ eius afferentur tibi. lxx

Omnis gloria filiæ regis intrinsecus fasceis aureis vestia est: in scutulatis ducetur ad regem virgines sequentur eam amicae eius ducentur illue. mas

O Almighty God, deliver us according to Your mercy. Raise up the downtrodden and lift up the humble. Before we call, You will answer. Have mercy upon us (Stark 308; English 228-29). Forgive us, save us and keep us faithfully awaiting Your Son’s advent that brings us to eternal life.  Amen. 

2. »A Song of Ascents. When Yahweh restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations: „Yahweh has done great things for them.“ Yahweh has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Yahweh, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.« 

3. Psalms 120-134 are the 15 psalms of ascent. These psalms were sung by Jewish pilgrims as they traveled up to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. (Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot). Psalm 126 is a song of joy for restoration (OT VIII: Psalm 51-150 126,1) of fortunes and the resultant joy. Post-exilic Judaism rejoiced in their return from Babylonian Exile, the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. Once more they could sing this psalm as they journeyed up to the city. Jesus probably sang this song when He travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts. 

4. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, Yahweh restores fallen men and women, but we often allow tribulations to obstruct this truth. The Psalmist uses the image of dryness and hardship. Our minds tend to focus on the current trouble which may lead to despair and lack of hope. While God forgives and forgets our sins (Psalm 103,12), we hash over our sins and let them burden us. To forget or downplay all of God’s previous acts of salvation and restoration may hinder faith and trust in His promises. Songs of regret will replace our songs of rejoicing.  

5. King Solomon reminds us that there is a time for regret: »τοῖς πᾶσιν χρόνος καὶ καιρὸς τῷ παντὶ πράγματι ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν. καιρὸς τοῦ κλαῦσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ γελάσαι καιρὸς τοῦ κόψασθαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ὀρχήσασθαι. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to be merry« (Ecclesiastes 3,1.4). When Judah returned from Babylonian Exile, they were still mourning. For 18 years they mourned (538-20 bc) and the temple remained built. The Prophet Haggai rises up and chastises then: it’s been almost 20 years since God ended the exile and returned us home! Why are you still moping about like you’re under the discipline of exile? It is time to rebuild the temple for the worship of Yahweh. The pagan King Darius has been more faithful to Yahweh than His own people (Haggai 1,4-11).

6. For us 2500 years later, the Scriptures exhort us to stop thinking and acting like the world has demoralized and defeated us! Lift up your hands and sing for joy! God is faithful and fulfills His promises. The promise is not only an announcement that will only be fulfilled in the future; it is a valid and powerful promise and pledge that takes immediate and present effect (Bayer 50-51). God is bound by His promissio, and He will stick to it and keep it (Bayer 50-51). The merciful steadfast level of Yahweh never ceases; His mercies never comes to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3,22-23). The Prophet Jeremiah spoke these words of comfort to Judah who was reeling from its defeat at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, the destruction of the temple and exile to Babylon. Years later, the exiles return to Judah and rebuilt the temple. 

7. The the maidens in today’s Gospel pericope are awaiting Jesus. He is the fulfillment of His Father’s promissio; He is the true Temple. »Jesus answered the Jews: „Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.“ But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken« (John 2,19.21-22). 

8. Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 126. Iesum qui proposito sibi gaudio sustinuit crucem. Jesus who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross (Hebrews 12,2). We go to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is His Father’s promissio of forgiveness. The Holy Spirit gives us this forgiveness in the preached Word, in our Baptism, in the Absolution and when we receive the body and blood of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper. 

9. The promise we await today is the return of Jesus. On that day He will raise our bodies to eternal life where we will dwell in His presence forever. On this earth we often sow in tears, but on the new earth we shall reap with shouts of joy for Jesus wipes away all tears. He is our Hope of salvation, our Victory over sorrow and our Resurrection. 

10. O Lord, through Your kindness,

Guide me on the right path;

Lord Christ, protect and bless me,

Lest I might stray in wrath.

Keep me firm in my faith,

As the evil days rage,

Help me to always receive

The joyous eternal wedding age.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

(Herzlich tut mich erfreuen selk 799,9 2021 Johann Walter (1545) Jahre 1552, Strophe 9 Dresden 1557)) 

This is most certainly true. 

11. Et pax Dei, quæ exuperat omnem sensum, custodiat corda vestra, et intelligentias vestras in Christo Jesu. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7).  Amen. 

12. Let us pray. Jesus, our Lord, do Thou meet us while we walk in the way and long to reach that heavenly country, so that, following Thy light, we may keep the way of righteousness and never wander away into the darkness of this world’s night while Thou, who art the Way, the Truth and the Light, art shining within us; for Thy mercy’s sake.  Amen. (Trinity XXVII, 2^nd Vespers Collect. The Daily Office). 

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

 

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover. 

Bayer, Oswald. Living by Faith: Justification and Sanctification. Copyright © 2003 William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Starck, Johann. Tägliches Hand-Buch. Copyright © 1852 Enßlin & Laiblin.

Starck, Johann. Tägliches Handbuch. Franz Pieper, tr. Copyright © 19oo Concordia Publishing House.

Starck, Johann. Starck’s Prayer Book. Copyright © 2009 Concordia Publishing House. 

The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.

Wesselschmidt, Quentin F. Psalm 51-150, Volume 8. Copyright © 2007 IVP Academic.