Independence Day! – Psalm 126
Independence Day! – Psalm 126
By Pastor Lee Hemen
July 1, 2007 AM
I cannot imagine what it is like to live under oppression and suddenly find yourself free. I remember when the first families from Russia came here and they could not believe what Americans took for granted. The tremendous variety of food available in grocery stores, the ability to purchase clothes, to own their own home and buy land. Freedom to worship for may from the ex-Soviet Union was the ultimate freedom. For many it was like dying and waking up in heaven. Isaiah the prophet was directed by God to remind God’s people that they were to be “a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6-7) In fact God’s people are told “to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’” (Isaiah 49:9) Independence day has come but few in this country hear of it anymore.
Here in this Psalm, the writer reflected the struggle of returned exiles. The psalmist was joyful because the Lord had restored them to their land, but he also prayed for a full restoration of the captives. A complete spiritual restoration. He found comfort in the principle of sowing and reaping because he knew the spiritual cost involved if God’s people did not proclaim their independence day to others around them. While no other nation on the face of the earth enjoys greater freedom than America, it has come at a great cost of time, talent, and treasure. The same is true for the people of God if they desire to do the will of God and proclaim Independence Day to a lost and dying world. It will not just happen if we want it to, it will cost every believer their personal time, talent, and treasure as well. Independence Day needs to be proclaimed anew in our day and age if we want to see this nation, this community, won to Jesus Christ. Let’s discover how this morning.
READ: Psalm 126
The prophet Isaiah heard God ask, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” He immediately replied, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) That call has not changed. In fact, it has become even more urgent in our day and age. We discover that for spiritual independence to be proclaimed…
I. Christians need to remind themselves of the cost involved! (vv. 1-3)
1. Remembering what God has done, encourages God’s people to proclaim their independence! Being in trouble, the returning pilgrims reminded themselves of their national trials which were followed by God’s remarkable deliverances: 1) God had rescued them in the past. 2) Then, their sorrow was gone like a dream, and 3) the joy which followed was so great that it seemed too good to be true! “When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.” So sudden and so overwhelming was their joy that they felt like men in a ecstatic trance. So full of joy were they that they could not contain themselves: Their “mouths were filled with laughter” and their “tongues with songs of joy!” The mercy of God was so unexpected, so amazing, so extraordinary that they could not do less than laugh out loud! Their deliverance was so great and incredible that when God brought it to pass they were as men in a dream. Paul would exclaim “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8) Paul would ask, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15) For spiritual independence to be proclaimed, Christians need to remind themselves of the cost involved.
EXAMPLE: There are so many in today’s world that are dying without Christ, it should make us shudder. It is startling to experience someone die in your arms and breath their last breath, without ever knowing the love of God. Never in the history of Christianity have so many died not hearing of the loving name of Jesus. AIDS is epidemic in Africa and threatens to wipe out whole generations and populations of people. When Islam becomes the predominant religion of any nation, that nation becomes illiterate, poverty stricken, and depressed. Sickness, death, and oppression soon follow. In America we find millions who either do not care or have not heard about Jesus and instead of reaching the lost with the gospel message, many churches are using the latest scam and pithy program to attract watchers. For spiritual independence to be proclaimed, Christians need to remind themselves of the cost involved.
The psalmist turned to the Lord to ask for restoration from Israel’s disastrous predicament—a disaster brought on by God’s anger and cried out, “You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry—now restore us!” (Psalm 60:1) Could God be angry with America today? Perhaps, but we find here in this Psalm that for spiritual independence to be proclaimed…
II. Christians need to pray for the total restoration of their nation! (v. 4)
1. Believers cannot rest on the “feelings” of their own spiritual security! The Psalmist makes a startling statement for celebrating people to make: “Restore our fortunes, O Lord!” He understood that the people were still captives! They were still prisoners in sin! So, in remembering the former joy of their past rescue, they cry to the Lord for a repetition of it! If God would hear and restore them it would be “like streams in the Negev” -- water in a dry and thirsty land! When we pray for the sin shackles of our captivity to be loosened, it is wise to recall former instances of spiritual drought and who supplies the streams of living water for our thirsty souls! Nothing strengthens faith more effectually than the memory of past history. The text shows us how wise it is to return anew to the Lord, who in former times has been so good to us. Where else should we go but to Him who has done such great things for us? Who else can release us from captivity but the one who released us before? The restoration of God’s people must come before the Lord can win a lost and dying nation! This is why God tells His chosen people that “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) The spiritual restoration of a nation begins with God’s people returning to God! Christians need to pray for the total restoration of their nation!
EXAMPLE: Restoration usually involves taking something and trying to make it new again by using part of what was left. When you restore an old car, you try to keep as much as possible of the original vehicle. The same is true when restoring old furniture. Yet, when God restores His people, He does the job completely. In fact God told Isaiah that one day, “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17) It is a perfect example of what God does for us because of Jesus Christ. Jesus told the Apostle John, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5) This is why the Psalmist repeats three times: “Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” (Psalm 80) Christians need to pray for the total restoration of their nation!
There is a lie that permeates our society today: “If it does not affect me personally, ignore it.” This is why many so-called believers can do a spiritual and mental “disconnect” after leaving worship on Sunday mornings. We have forgotten what it means to be brokenhearted for the lost. Not just in some far away land, but those who live next door, those who live with us, and those we work with and go to school with. The Psalmist teaches us that for spiritual independence to be proclaimed…
III. Christians need to plant the seed and harvest the crop! (vv. 5-6)
1. The believer have heartfelt sorrow over their nation that is lost and dying in sin! The Psalmist reminds us that “Those who sow in tears” remember the sin the world is caught in. Sorrow is found in our sowing because we know that sin is deeply rooted, but rejoicing shall be found in our reaping: Christians “will reap with songs of joy!” If there were no sowing in heartbroken tears there would be no reaping in abundant joy. We who were once captives ourselves can lead those held as slaves to sin to freedom! The admonishment found here is the fact that Christians must sow the gospel seed. “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” It is a promise of God if we go and sow! We will return with a harvest! We may have to sow in the damp weather of sorrow; but we shall reap in the bright sunlight of autumn’s joy! Jesus would warn His disciples about their spiritual apathy: “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” (John 4:35-36) We cannot save anyone, but we are to plant the seeds of the gospel as we go! Jesus’ last words were: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you!” (Matthew 28:19-20) The Psalmist makes it plain that “those who sow… will reap!” Christians need to plant the seed and harvest the crop!
EXAMPLE: I read a fable about a man who was browsing in a store when he made the shocking discovery that God was behind a sales counter. So the man walked over and asked, "What are You selling?" God replied, "What does your heart desire?" The man said, "I want happiness, peace of mind, and freedom from fear . . . for me and the whole world." God smiled and said, "I don't sell fruit here. Only seeds." In Galatians 6, Paul stressed the importance of sowing seeds of God-honoring behavior: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:7-9) We can't expect a sin-captive world to experience the fruit of God's blessings if we as believers do not recognize the importance of doing our part. Christians need to plant the seed and harvest the crop!
Conclusion:
For spiritual independence to be proclaimed there are three things the Psalmist teaches us that needs to occur: 1) Christians need to remind themselves of the cost involved! 2) Christians need to pray for the total restoration of their nation! And 3) Christians need to plant the seed and harvest the crop!
By Pastor Lee Hemen
July 1, 2007 AM
I cannot imagine what it is like to live under oppression and suddenly find yourself free. I remember when the first families from Russia came here and they could not believe what Americans took for granted. The tremendous variety of food available in grocery stores, the ability to purchase clothes, to own their own home and buy land. Freedom to worship for may from the ex-Soviet Union was the ultimate freedom. For many it was like dying and waking up in heaven. Isaiah the prophet was directed by God to remind God’s people that they were to be “a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6-7) In fact God’s people are told “to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’” (Isaiah 49:9) Independence day has come but few in this country hear of it anymore.
Here in this Psalm, the writer reflected the struggle of returned exiles. The psalmist was joyful because the Lord had restored them to their land, but he also prayed for a full restoration of the captives. A complete spiritual restoration. He found comfort in the principle of sowing and reaping because he knew the spiritual cost involved if God’s people did not proclaim their independence day to others around them. While no other nation on the face of the earth enjoys greater freedom than America, it has come at a great cost of time, talent, and treasure. The same is true for the people of God if they desire to do the will of God and proclaim Independence Day to a lost and dying world. It will not just happen if we want it to, it will cost every believer their personal time, talent, and treasure as well. Independence Day needs to be proclaimed anew in our day and age if we want to see this nation, this community, won to Jesus Christ. Let’s discover how this morning.
READ: Psalm 126
The prophet Isaiah heard God ask, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” He immediately replied, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) That call has not changed. In fact, it has become even more urgent in our day and age. We discover that for spiritual independence to be proclaimed…
I. Christians need to remind themselves of the cost involved! (vv. 1-3)
1. Remembering what God has done, encourages God’s people to proclaim their independence! Being in trouble, the returning pilgrims reminded themselves of their national trials which were followed by God’s remarkable deliverances: 1) God had rescued them in the past. 2) Then, their sorrow was gone like a dream, and 3) the joy which followed was so great that it seemed too good to be true! “When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.” So sudden and so overwhelming was their joy that they felt like men in a ecstatic trance. So full of joy were they that they could not contain themselves: Their “mouths were filled with laughter” and their “tongues with songs of joy!” The mercy of God was so unexpected, so amazing, so extraordinary that they could not do less than laugh out loud! Their deliverance was so great and incredible that when God brought it to pass they were as men in a dream. Paul would exclaim “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8) Paul would ask, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15) For spiritual independence to be proclaimed, Christians need to remind themselves of the cost involved.
EXAMPLE: There are so many in today’s world that are dying without Christ, it should make us shudder. It is startling to experience someone die in your arms and breath their last breath, without ever knowing the love of God. Never in the history of Christianity have so many died not hearing of the loving name of Jesus. AIDS is epidemic in Africa and threatens to wipe out whole generations and populations of people. When Islam becomes the predominant religion of any nation, that nation becomes illiterate, poverty stricken, and depressed. Sickness, death, and oppression soon follow. In America we find millions who either do not care or have not heard about Jesus and instead of reaching the lost with the gospel message, many churches are using the latest scam and pithy program to attract watchers. For spiritual independence to be proclaimed, Christians need to remind themselves of the cost involved.
The psalmist turned to the Lord to ask for restoration from Israel’s disastrous predicament—a disaster brought on by God’s anger and cried out, “You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry—now restore us!” (Psalm 60:1) Could God be angry with America today? Perhaps, but we find here in this Psalm that for spiritual independence to be proclaimed…
II. Christians need to pray for the total restoration of their nation! (v. 4)
1. Believers cannot rest on the “feelings” of their own spiritual security! The Psalmist makes a startling statement for celebrating people to make: “Restore our fortunes, O Lord!” He understood that the people were still captives! They were still prisoners in sin! So, in remembering the former joy of their past rescue, they cry to the Lord for a repetition of it! If God would hear and restore them it would be “like streams in the Negev” -- water in a dry and thirsty land! When we pray for the sin shackles of our captivity to be loosened, it is wise to recall former instances of spiritual drought and who supplies the streams of living water for our thirsty souls! Nothing strengthens faith more effectually than the memory of past history. The text shows us how wise it is to return anew to the Lord, who in former times has been so good to us. Where else should we go but to Him who has done such great things for us? Who else can release us from captivity but the one who released us before? The restoration of God’s people must come before the Lord can win a lost and dying nation! This is why God tells His chosen people that “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) The spiritual restoration of a nation begins with God’s people returning to God! Christians need to pray for the total restoration of their nation!
EXAMPLE: Restoration usually involves taking something and trying to make it new again by using part of what was left. When you restore an old car, you try to keep as much as possible of the original vehicle. The same is true when restoring old furniture. Yet, when God restores His people, He does the job completely. In fact God told Isaiah that one day, “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17) It is a perfect example of what God does for us because of Jesus Christ. Jesus told the Apostle John, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5) This is why the Psalmist repeats three times: “Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” (Psalm 80) Christians need to pray for the total restoration of their nation!
There is a lie that permeates our society today: “If it does not affect me personally, ignore it.” This is why many so-called believers can do a spiritual and mental “disconnect” after leaving worship on Sunday mornings. We have forgotten what it means to be brokenhearted for the lost. Not just in some far away land, but those who live next door, those who live with us, and those we work with and go to school with. The Psalmist teaches us that for spiritual independence to be proclaimed…
III. Christians need to plant the seed and harvest the crop! (vv. 5-6)
1. The believer have heartfelt sorrow over their nation that is lost and dying in sin! The Psalmist reminds us that “Those who sow in tears” remember the sin the world is caught in. Sorrow is found in our sowing because we know that sin is deeply rooted, but rejoicing shall be found in our reaping: Christians “will reap with songs of joy!” If there were no sowing in heartbroken tears there would be no reaping in abundant joy. We who were once captives ourselves can lead those held as slaves to sin to freedom! The admonishment found here is the fact that Christians must sow the gospel seed. “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” It is a promise of God if we go and sow! We will return with a harvest! We may have to sow in the damp weather of sorrow; but we shall reap in the bright sunlight of autumn’s joy! Jesus would warn His disciples about their spiritual apathy: “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” (John 4:35-36) We cannot save anyone, but we are to plant the seeds of the gospel as we go! Jesus’ last words were: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you!” (Matthew 28:19-20) The Psalmist makes it plain that “those who sow… will reap!” Christians need to plant the seed and harvest the crop!
EXAMPLE: I read a fable about a man who was browsing in a store when he made the shocking discovery that God was behind a sales counter. So the man walked over and asked, "What are You selling?" God replied, "What does your heart desire?" The man said, "I want happiness, peace of mind, and freedom from fear . . . for me and the whole world." God smiled and said, "I don't sell fruit here. Only seeds." In Galatians 6, Paul stressed the importance of sowing seeds of God-honoring behavior: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:7-9) We can't expect a sin-captive world to experience the fruit of God's blessings if we as believers do not recognize the importance of doing our part. Christians need to plant the seed and harvest the crop!
Conclusion:
For spiritual independence to be proclaimed there are three things the Psalmist teaches us that needs to occur: 1) Christians need to remind themselves of the cost involved! 2) Christians need to pray for the total restoration of their nation! And 3) Christians need to plant the seed and harvest the crop!
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