Psalm 126:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!

NIV: Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.

NASB: Restore our fortunes, Lord, As the streams in the South.

CSB: Restore our fortunes, Lord, like watercourses in the Negev.

NLT: Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.

KJV: Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.

NKJV: Bring back our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South.

Now that the Babylonian captivity had ended (2 Chronicles 36:17–21; Ezra 2:1), the psalmist's thoughts turned to the need for the Lord's continued blessings. These may be generic ideas about prosperity and safety. However, some commentators link this to a desire to see all of the Israelite refugees return to the Promised Land. Although permitted to go home, ancient historians such as Josephus indicate that most people of Israel chose to stay in Babylon.

Imagery of streams in the Negeb desert may represent this desire to see Israel's population explode with growth. During the dry season, riverbeds in the Negeb region are often dry. When seasonal rains come, water collects from the mountains and those meager streams become overflowing rivers. It may be that the psalmist longs to see Israel's faint presence in those first days after the exile rapidly become a great homecoming of the nation's people. Only the Lord would have the power to make this happen (Ezekiel 34:26), and with much effort on the part of His devoted followers (Psalm 126:5–6).

The worldwide church of all believers can experience dry seasons in which many Christians are apathetic. Yet revival can cause showers of blessing to fall and Christians to grow and be fruitful. Habakkuk longed for revival. He prayed: "O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years, revive it; in the midst of the years make it known, in wrath remember mercy" (Habakkuk 3:2).

Psalm 126:4 asks the Lord to continue blessing the restoration of Israel and Jerusalem (Psalm 126:1–3). When Israel was allowed to return from captivity in Babylon (Ezra 2:1), many stayed behind. The psalmist seems to be asking for a surge of Israelites resembling the way dry desert streams would gush during the rainy seasons.

Learning that they could return to the Promised Land (2 Chronicles 36:17–21) would have been incredible news for Israel. It seemed too good to be true. Yet God's work was being seen by the entire world. The psalmist prays for the Lord to continue restoring the people. This would have included those who chose to remain in Babylon.

This is a "song of ascent," sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for one of three annual festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16). Psalm 126 seems inspired by Israel's return from exile in Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:17–21; Ezra 2:1). A few scholars suggest a connection to the thwarted siege of Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:32–36). The psalmist celebrates what God has done. Yet he also prays to bring all the people of Israel back to the Promised Land.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.