Well, let's turn in our Bibles to Psalm 126.
Psalm 126.
So I wish you a joy-filled coming year.
A joy-filled coming year.
Is it possible that we could be joy-filled?
Well, yes, we can.
We're going to find out how as we read Psalm 126.
Let's read together.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them.
The Lord has done great things for us.
And we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Short psalm, but a great psalm.
Let's pray and ask for God's help as we look at this together.
Let's pray.
Father, thank you that you are present with us.
We cannot see you physically, but you are here by your Holy Spirit.
And you are here through your word as we look at it together.
Father, and we pray that by your Spirit you would take your word and speak into our lives today.
Restore our fortunes so that we are filled with joy.
That's our prayer.
And we ask that you will do it.
Amen.
Well, have any of you ever seen The Repair Shop?
Any of you seen that?
It's a program on TV where people bring in their broken items to get repaired.
It could be a chair, it could be a record player, a toy or a game.
Something that has great emotional value to the person.
And at the beginning of the program, we see the guests bring their broken item, a watch or whatever it is that belonged to their great, great, great, great grandmother.
And by the end of the program, they receive the fully repaired and restored item.
And the response of the guest is always one of wonder and delight.
As their repaired item is revealed to them, as the cover is pulled away, they are stunned and amazed that something broken could be restored.
There are tears of joy.
Well, wonderfully, God is in the business of restoration.
And it always leads to songs of joy.
Look at verse 1 with me.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion.
Verse 2.
We were filled with songs of joy.
Verse 4.
Restore our fortunes.
Verse 5.
And there will be songs of joy.
You see, this is what God is doing for us.
He restores broken lives and fills us with songs of joy.
And this ultimately happens through the gospel, the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ.
So as we venture into Psalm 126, we do so at the end of one year and facing into another year.
So what we're going to do is we're going to look back with joy at God's restoration.
And we're going to look forward in joy with God's restoration.
A looking back and a looking forward.
So first of all, let's look back with joy.
Verse 2.
Our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy.
Imagine a room full of laughter and joy.
Why?
What's the cause here of such delight?
Well, we know, don't we?
Look at verse 1.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion.
This is taking us back.
God's people are looking back to the salvation that God did in their lives.
It could be when God rescued his people from Egypt.
Or it could be when God returned his people from exile.
The slavery in Egypt, the separation in exile, were both desperate situations.
It seemed utterly hopeless and dark.
But yet God intervened and restored them.
End of verse 1.
We were like those who dreamed.
The restoration that God brought about was only a distant thought.
But amazingly, it became a reality.
You see, this is the kind of God we have.
He's a restoring God.
Have a look back with me to Psalm 107.
It's where we started this morning.
Psalm 107.
This psalm is a collection of stories of how God restores.
How God intervenes and saves.
So look at verse 2.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.
Well, what is their story?
Well, let's have a look.
Verse 4.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.
Verse 6.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
Or look at verse 10.
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains.
Verse 13.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
Or verse 17.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways, and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
Verse 19.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and yes, he saved them from their distress.
You see, God is a restoring God.
He saves, he rescues his people.
Well, let's go back to Psalm 126.
Now, the point of all these restoration stories is, this is God's work.
God has intervened.
His acts of salvation have been clearly seen, and it's evident by the nations.
Look at the end of verse 2.
It was said among the nations, as they looked on at what God has done.
The Lord has done great things for them, for his people.
And the people themselves, well, they could say in verse 3, the Lord has done great things for us.
You see, salvation is always a work of God.
It's not 50-50, you do your bit, and God will make up the rest.
No, it's always 100% God.
It is salvation is an intervention by God when we're no longer longing or desiring.
It's a God initiative when we have no means or no ability within ourselves.
God restores and God acts.
Now, God's acts of salvation, as we've seen, have been many and varied.
But the point of all of these stories throughout the Old Testament is to point us to Christ, who ultimately saves.
One writer put it like this.
The Bible is not a series of disconnected stories.
It is a single narrative in which every story, every character, and every act points beyond itself to one who is greater.
That is, Jesus Christ.
So the story of God rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt points us to Jesus, who has come to rescue us from a greater slavery, or slavery to sin.
The account of God returning his people who are in exile back to their own land points us to Jesus, who brings us back into relationship with him,
and into a kingdom that will last forever and ever.
The restoration that God's people who are in exile back to their own land points us to Jesus.
I want us to encourage us to look back with joy.
Here's two ways we can do this.
Here's the first one.
Remembering our big salvation story.
So retell the story to yourself.
If you are a Christian here this morning, look back to that time in life when God intervened into the mess and brokenness of your life and restored you.
Do you remember it?
How he forgave you of all your sin, past, present, and future, never to hold it against you?
Do you remember how he loved you?
Do you remember how he loved you and embraced you and welcomed you as a son and daughter into his family?
Look back and remember the moment you realized Jesus is my saviour.
Be filled with joy at the big salvation story.
But also remember and look back to the smaller stories of salvation.
You see, while we may have a big story of being saved by Jesus, there are many mini stories too, aren't there?
Like the stories we read in Psalm 107.
Maybe you were wandering in that desert-like wasteland, empty, unfulfilled.
Or perhaps you were like that person who was in deep darkness.
No hope, no light.
Or maybe it was just through our plain old foolish sinful self and we found ourselves lost and broken.
But whatever experience we have been through, God remained faithful to you.
He heard your cry of trouble and in your distress, he saved you.
He restored your life.
You see, when God saves you, he will keep you.
He is the faithful, loyal, and steadfast God.
So look back with joy in what God has done for you.
Now maybe you're here this morning, but you're thinking,
well, I don't have a salvation story.
I haven't experienced that.
Well, you know what?
You can, right here, right now,
by simply trusting Jesus with your life,
you can be restored to God.
He will give you a new beginning and a fresh start.
He will walk with you in your times of trials.
He will be with you in your seasons of struggle.
Those that God saves, he will keep.
He will never, ever let you go.
No matter your sin, your suffering, or Satan,
he will hold you.
And so you too can say these words in verse 3.
The Lord has done great things for me.
And I am filled with joy.
So can we look back together?
Look back in the past,
at the big salvation story,
and all the many little ways God has been keeping you in your life.
Second,
looking down without joy.
You see, we may be and have experienced joy in the past,
but that's not how I would describe my life today.
Perhaps you're thinking,
when I look at my life at this very moment,
it's joyless.
Because that seems to be the experience of the writer.
Something is happening between verses 3 and 4.
We're not told,
but it's clear, isn't it?
Because verse 3 ends with joy, doesn't it?
We're filled with joy.
But then verse 4,
there's an absence of joy.
All is not right.
He's having to cry out again,
verse 4,
Restore our fortunes, Lord.
It's like the joy is gone.
In fact, as we read on in the remaining verses,
there's tears and weeping.
Their life is like a farmer
who's longing and waiting for a turn of fortunes.
He's sowing in tears,
going out weeping.
They're doing the right things,
but nothing seems to be changing.
Isn't that how life can feel?
Maybe that's where you are right now,
today.
You've trusted God in the past.
You've been serving God.
You've been faithful.
But the past was great.
But today,
this week,
this year,
it's been hard.
It's tough.
And there are no songs of joy.
You see,
we live in a broken world,
don't we?
And some days,
that brokenness
is all too real.
A loved one dies.
A relationship breaks.
A friend lets you down.
You receive that unwanted diagnosis
from the doctor.
Your plans for the future
are all shattered.
You fail
and you fall again.
Today,
there are no songs of joy.
Today,
it's tears
and weeping.
Is that it?
Is that the life
that I am to expect?
The past was great.
But today,
what's going to happen?
Is this it?
Well,
the answer
is both a yes
and a no.
There will be tears
and there will be joy.
Third,
looking forward
with joy.
You see,
amidst the suffering
and the pain,
there is a promise,
isn't there?
Look at verses 5 and 6.
The people will
reap with songs of joy.
They will,
verse 6,
return
with songs of joy.
How?
Where,
where does all this joy
come from?
Well,
verse 4
gives us the answer.
It's a prayer.
Unless,
sorry,
verse 4,
restore our fortunes,
Lord,
like streams
in the Negev.
They're praying
to God.
Having looked back
at how God
had restored
in the past,
the people are now
crying out to God
to intervene again
and bring
his salvation.
Just as you
restored us
in the past,
restore us again
today
like streams
in the Negev.
Well,
what's the Negev?
I've never been there.
Well,
the Negev
was a dry wilderness,
barren
and desert-like.
No life,
no growth.
However,
heavy rains
in the distant mountains
would cause
flash flooding
on the barren
plains below.
Dry riverbeds
would suddenly
become full
and an overflowing river.
Overnight,
dormant seeds
are nourished
and within
24 hours,
lush green plants
and flowers
sprout up
all along
the river course.
And you can watch this
on YouTube,
by the way.
Go and look it up.
Not now,
later.
What was barren
has now
automatically,
instantly
been filled
with life
as the river
comes cascading
through.
It's restored.
It's like a new
creation.
Well,
just as the rivers
flow and bring
life,
so the cry
goes up to God
once again
to bring
restoration,
to bring
his salvation.
Ultimately,
it's a prayer
for God's people
as we live
in a broken
world.
We long
for God
to come
again
and to
restore
our fortunes.
We long
for the day
when God
will burst
forth like
a mighty
river,
bringing life
in all its
glorious abundance.
We long
for the tears
to be replaced
with laughter,
the sound
of weeping
with songs
of joy.
Restore
our fortunes,
Lord,
like streams
in the
Negev.
Well,
there is
a promised
joy,
isn't there?
Through the
blur of our
tears
and through
the pain
of our
weeping,
let's not
lose sight
of God's
promise.
Look at
verse 5.
Those who
sow with
tears
will
reap
with songs
of joy.
Those who
go out
weeping,
carrying
seed to
sow,
will
return
with songs
of joy,
carrying
sheaves
with them.
Here
is the
promise
of God's
full
and complete
salvation,
the ultimate
restoration
we
long
for.
It
will be
like
harvest
time,
where
everything
is
ripe
and full
and there's
fruitfulness.
It's
then that
all sorrow
will cease
and there
will be
songs of
joy
forevermore.
How can
we be so
sure of
this?
Well,
come with
me please
to John's
Gospel.
You can
keep your
finger in
one,
two,
six,
and we'll
go to
John's
Gospel in
the New
Testament,
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke,
John.
John
chapter
16.
Here
Jesus is
speaking with
his
disciples
about
his
soon
death
to come
and his
resurrection
that will
take place
after.
And with
his
disciples he
speaks these
words starting
in verse
20.
Very
truly I
tell you,
you will
weep and
mourn while
the world
rejoices.
You will
grieve,
but your
grief will
turn to
joy.
A woman
giving birth
to a child
has pain
because her
time has
come.
but when
her baby
is born
she forgets
the anguish
because of
her joy
that a
child is
born into
the world.
So with
you,
now is
your time
of grief,
but I
will see
you again
and you
will rejoice
and no
one will
take away
your joy.
Jesus' promise
here is
not just
for the
disciples
but for
all his
people who
trust him.
You see,
through the
death of
Jesus,
our
rebellion
was dealt
with and
there was
the joy
of the
forgiveness
of all
of our
sin.
But more
than that,
through the
resurrection of
Jesus,
death is
defeated once
and for
all and
there is
the joy
of eternal
life.
But above
all of
these things,
one day
the risen
Jesus will
return and
he will
end all
grief and
he will
wipe away
your every
tear and
fill your
hearts with
joy.
Look at
verse 22
again.
So with
you,
now is
your time
of grief,
but I
will see
you again
and you
will rejoice
and no
one will
take away
your joy.
Let's go
back to
Psalm 126.
So there
is the
promised
joy.
And in
the meantime,
there's
patient
waiting,
isn't
there?
Jesus is
coming,
hallelujah.
But what
about now?
What do we
do today as
we wait?
well, we
have the
joy of
forgiveness,
the joy
of a
relationship
with God,
the joy
of an
eternal
future to
come,
the joy
of one
another here
today.
And
together we
get on
with the
task of
sharing this
gospel hope
with a
broken
world.
Look at
verse 5.
the
picture is
agricultural.
The farmer
goes out
to sow
his seed,
carrying
his seed,
and is
patiently
waiting.
Sometimes,
well,
sometimes the
crop can
fail.
Maybe it
gets diseased,
perhaps there's
no rain.
The work is
repeated,
and so the
farmer must
go again,
more sowing,
more carrying,
longing,
waiting.
Through the
tears,
and through
the weeping,
he goes
again,
and again.
It's a
picture of
the church,
isn't it?
As we get
on with the
task of
sharing the
gospel hope,
we faithfully
sow the
seed.
We share
the gospel
story of
God's
restoration,
and we
pray for
God to
act,
that he
would come
like a
mighty
river,
longing,
and waiting,
tears,
and weeping.
You pray
for a
friend,
months and
years pass
by.
You serve
in the
ministry of
a church
every week,
every term,
but for
all the
hard work,
there comes
at times
disappointment,
rejection,
loneliness.
We sow
with tears,
we go out
weeping,
we long for
the barren
wastelands to
be filled with
life.
Well,
one day,
the longing
and the
waiting will
be over.
Look at
verse 5.
Those who
sow with
tears
will reap
with songs
of joy.
Those who
go out
weeping,
carrying seed
to sow,
will return
with songs
of joy,
carrying sheaves
with them.
one day
the Lord
will return
and as
he gathers
all God's
people,
on that
great day
we will
see the
harvest
in all
its fullness,
more than
we could
ever expect
or imagine.
And we
will celebrate
God's
restoration.
Tears
and weeping
will become
songs
of joy.
And so
as we
sit
between
the end
of one
year
and the
start
of a
new
year,
as we
face
today
with all
its
struggles
and all
its
pressures,
I invite
us all
to look
back
on 2023
and rejoice
in God's
salvation
in your
life and
how he
has saved
you and
how he
has kept
you.
He has
been faithful
and I
want us
to look
forward to
2024
and rejoice
in what
God is
doing.
The numbers
may be
small in
those who
respond,
but God
is doing
his work
and we
look forward
to the
ultimate
day
when we
will carry
in sheaves
many
people.
Together,
today we
pray,
we
sow
and we
wait.
Joy
is
coming.
Let's
pray.
Father,
thank you.
Thank you
for intervening
into our
life.
Thank you
for rescuing
us,
restoring us
and saving
us,
for the
joy of
salvation
today.
Thank you
for the
many,
many times
you have
intervened
in our
life,
how you
keep us,
how you
are faithful,
and help
us now
together as
your people,
as your
church,
as we
go forward
to a
new year,
to trust
your great
promises,
that you
will do
your work
as we
sow.
Help us
never to
tire from
doing the
gospel work
that you
have called
us to,
in the
glorious hope
and knowledge,
that we
will reap
with songs
of joy,
we will
see a
harvest to
come.
So bless
us,
Father,
do your
work amongst
us,
and we
ask this
for your
glory,
and the
fame of
your name.
Amen.
Well,
we're going
to sing,
sing a
song of
joy.
What is
our hope
in life
and death?
Yes,
it's true,
we do
have an
eternal
hope.