Psalm 126-130
Psalm 126
1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Remember, Psalms is a book of poetry. If it were a book of facts (and stuff) they wouldn't need the prose that is, "like them that dream". Now what does "like them that dream" mean? Are they referring to people who sleep? I don't think so. These "dreamers" are actually more like people who are on drugs, high, stoned, tripping.
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.
When God sends you back to your homeland, it's the greatest high you could have.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
I think this seed (for once) doesn't deal with children. Because sheaves are cut down after growth, and you wouldn't really want to harvest your kids with a scythe.
Psalm 127
1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
When building a house, it's best to have the LORD on your side.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Fruit of the womb is his reward!
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Remember, children are a blessing from God, the more you have, the more God loves you.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
The more kids you have, the less you'll be afraid of going out and coming in at the gate, because that's what got you the kids in the first place.
The house that is spoken of here, could very well be a marriage. Unless the LORD is the foundation of your marriage, your house will crumble. How many True Christians ™ get divorced... I can't think of any... can you? Why, the LORD is their foundation. It's obvious that if there is a divorce, one of them obviously isn't a True Christian ™. True Christian ™ marriages have many children, it's God that provides the kids, and God that keeps the marriage together. The couple isn't just staying together for the kids.
Psalm 128
1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
Remember, constant sin is a relatively new concept (New Testament) concept. The Jews have 613 laws, it's not that tough to follow 613 laws. There are also 10 commandments, it's not that tough to follow 10 rules. Thou shalt not kill (murder), that's easy enough. Thou shalt not steal (from a neighbour) that's also easy. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, since God's real name isn't used at all in the Bible (KJV1611) and no one is sure how to pronounce it now anyway, that's about the easiest thing in the world not to break. (I could continue, but this is psalms, not Exodus; that was just a demonstration of how easy it is to walk in his ways)
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Hopefully my wife is more like a hops bine, than a vine. But either way, fruitful would be good.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
That doesn't sound like much, a blessing that a person see his grand-kids. But, during the Bronze Age, the average lifespan was 18 years. During the Classical Greece and Rome ages, the time line was about 20-30. Living to see a grand child is quite a feat. Now, that number doesn't mean that people would die off at 20, what it means is that for (basically) everyone who made it to 60, 2 people died as infants. If you lived, you had about 1 in 3 kids make it past puberty. If they lived, you had about a 1 in 9 chance of having grand kids.
Psalm 129
1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
I say, I'm not a chicken, I'm a ROOSTER, boy!
5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
Damn people who hate Zion, aren't they already kind of crazy, since they hate the people of the LORD?
6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
Rooftop gardens are of the devil!
Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
This is another of those "woe is me" psalms.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
Poor king of Israel, with his riches, and wives, and power...
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
You wonder if this was written as he was waiting for Uriah to be killed on the front lines.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
I say, I'm a ROOSTER boy!
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Those would be Israel's iniquities, not God's iniquities, God is in iniquitous.
So what have we learned today?
1. People God loves have many children.
2. God is a good home builder.
3. Foghorn Leghorn makes another appearance.
YIC
V