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Psalms Wendell Stoltzfus Psalms Wendell Stoltzfus

We Are Glad!

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Speaker: Wendell Stoltzfus
Scripture: Psalm 126
April 2, 2023

Psalm 126: When the Lord 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,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    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.

Sermon Outline

Introduction: "He never committed a pleasure"

  • Ellen Glasgow's father

  • Martin Luther's colleague

1. We are glad! (v. 3b)

  • Psalm 126 is a Luther-type psalm

  • In the Bible, the chief characteristic of the Christian pilgrimage is gladness and joy

    • Not the gladness of lightheartedness

2. Joy past (vv. 1-3a)

  • In the OT, there are many times where God restored His people in hopeless situations

  • The ultimate fulfillment of these verses comes later, with Christ

3. Joy future (vv. 4-6)

  • In this psalm, two images express the joy or anticipation in a seemingly hopeless situation

  • The joy of anticipating what God is going to do -- based on what God has already done -- comes in the context of the pain, suffering, loneliness, of life in this fallen world

4. Conclusion: Joy present

  • First Application: Psalm 126 teaches us how to read the Bible

  • Second Application: A thought exercise

  • Think of a giant scale

  • On one side, put all of your stinking circumstances

  • On the other side, put all that God has done for you in Jesus Christ

  • See which side outweighs the other

  • Consider that all the stuff on the hardship side is part of your preparation for God's eternal kingdom

  • The Verdict found in God's Word

    • Romans 8:18: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

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