Who could understand the great joy of the Jewish People
in May 1948 in the Declaration of the Independent State of Israel
after nearly 2,000 years of exile and being kicked out
of one nation to another. It was God that returned them to Israel,
not themselves only. The nations had proven they belonged no
where else in the world but in the Promised Land.
Psalm 126 A Joyful Return to Zion
1 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.
5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 126 A Joyful Return to Zion
O come, O come, Immanuel!
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
In the words of the Christmas hymn, O Come, O Come, Immanuel written in 1861 by John Mason Neale, Israel has been a "ransom" nation mourning in lonely exile in the nations. I made a shocking discovery when I looked up the original language of "captivity" used in Psalm 126. It did not mean what I assumed it meant - to be held captive like a prisoner. But the word is šîḇâ and it means something else entirely! The "captivity of Zion" is "a return (of property)" and "restoration." The lyrics of this Christmas hymn actually calls of Immanuel (God with us) the "ransom" nation Israel by returning her property to her: the Promised Land, the restoration of Israel to the Jewish people!
All the time the Jewish people have been in exile in the nations outside of Israel, they have been a ransom for the nation. God set Israel aside on purpose as a ransom, so the Gentiles - the nations - could be brought into the inheritance of Israel as chosen people of God. This is a much deeper subject, but it relates to the two scapegoats of Leviticus 16. One of the goats is sacrificed for sin and symbolizes Jesus, the ransom (redemption) for all; the second goat was sent out into the wilderness as a scapegoat. In this role as scapegoat in exile, the Jewish people also became a ransom during the time God would redeem people from all the nations to be saved. Chosen People taking part in the fellowship of the suffering of Yeshua.
All the time the Jewish people have been in exile in the nations outside of Israel, they have been a ransom for the nation. God set Israel aside on purpose as a ransom, so the Gentiles - the nations - could be brought into the inheritance of Israel as chosen people of God. This is a much deeper subject, but it relates to the two scapegoats of Leviticus 16. One of the goats is sacrificed for sin and symbolizes Jesus, the ransom (redemption) for all; the second goat was sent out into the wilderness as a scapegoat. In this role as scapegoat in exile, the Jewish people also became a ransom during the time God would redeem people from all the nations to be saved. Chosen People taking part in the fellowship of the suffering of Yeshua.
I don't know about you but that truth is exciting to me! One it totally changes my understanding of Israel's captivity. Israel is not God's prisoner, but God's work of restoration! Two, because I know according to Ezekiel's prophetic vision of the valley of dry bones, God's restoration of the State of Israel is only the beginning of His restoration plan for the Jewish people. The ultimate restoration is the spiritual restoration that the Church clearly has part in, because the prophet is called to prophesy to the four winds, "O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!” And God says to prophesy that "I will bring you back to the land of Israel."...I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.’ ”
It changes everything in this Psalm 126, doesn't it? Israel delighting in the restoration of the Promised Land - yet still the nations are all aligned against this restoration. For a while the nations said, “The Lord has done great things for them.” But now there is anger in the nations, antisemitism, antiZionism which is just anti-God/anti-Israel hatred. Yet God is calling the prophets STILL to speak over Israel the FULL restoration - the spiritual restoration: So, those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
What are the sheaves? Sheaves of wheat representing those in the spiritual harvest of Israel. Who are those sowing the seeds of the Gospel with tears in Israel? They are the Remnant of Faith in Israel in the face of the Messianic Jewish ministries - their congregations, their ministries, their congregations and volunteers. These re sowing in tears and shall weep for joy for all the seeds that will be brought in the spiritual harvest. And we, the Christians in the nations who recognize this and help them in prayers and prophesying, and in practical help to advance the kingdom of our Lord in Israel, YES! we will come together with them rejoicing.
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