Psalm 126--Restore Our Fortunes, O LORD

Psalm 126
English Standard Version

Restore Our Fortunes, O LORD
A Song of Ascents.
126 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dream.
2 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.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

​4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
    like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
    shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    bringing his sheaves with him.

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This seems to be a post-Exilic Psalm--one written about the people returning to the Land after being in Exile (though it could have been prophetic and written for the people while they were in Exile about how the people would restore them but written in the prophetic past tense as it was as good as done to the LORD).

Either way, this is now something for the people to look back on once again as they come to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem and they remember how the LORD saved them not only out of Egypt, but also out of Assyria and Babylon.  "The LORD has done great things for us!  We are glad!"

However, the LORD didn't give them back everything all at once, as He made them continue to rely on Him each and every day for what they needed.  The fulfillment of their request will ultimately come when Jesus reigns from the throne of David in Jerusalem.  Their weeping will be turned into mourning, their poverty to wealth, the dry desert places will become fertile with stream of life-giving water, and all that is bitter will become sweet.  Those who have labored hard in sowing will reap a fruitful harvest.   We may not see these promises all fulfilled in the here-and-now, but this is what the LORD wants for His people, and specifically for the nation of Israel.  He has promised good things to them, but some of those good things will have to wait until Messiah takes the throne over His earthly kingdom.