One of the words often used in explaining the psalms is ‘eschatology’. The word means literally ‘talk about the end’. For Israel it was the idea of the end of the nation of Israel, the universe or the individual. Christ himself spoke of the consummation of the world and the New Testament bears testimony to the return of Christ at the end of time.

            Songs of Ascent (3) Ps 125 (126) DO (Everyday Prayer) Wk 3 Wed Ev. Pr. pg 576.

            A pilgrimage psalm which is also a lament or cry for help. The pilgrims come in a great procession to the Temple carrying their offering of sheaves. Notice the title ‘Joy and Hope in the Lord’. Joy (Vs 1-3, first two paragraphs) and hope (Vs 4-6, paragraph 3 and 4). The historical situation of Israel is the return of the exiles from Babylon. They come back rejoicing, they could not believe it; it all seemed like a dream. But when it happened, they were filled with joy. Laughter and songs filled the atmosphere.

            It was a known fact among the non-Israelites that Jerusalem had been destroyed and the people were exiled in Babylon in 586 BCE. Now when Cyrus, the Persian conqueror, gave an edict for them to return to Jerusalem, the pagan peoples were amazed at what the Lord did for Israel. The psalmist also sees the hand of the Lord in their return.

            But at their return the worst is not over. There were other difficulties. Perhaps their land needed water for fertility. They had to rebuild their land and country. They pray the Lord to restore their fortunes as of old. They needed the spring rains for their land to bear fruit. Pain and suffering would accompany their hard work of sowing, but when they reap they will rejoice. The fourth paragraph (Vs 6), expresses the reversal that takes place when the seed dies and yields the joy of a plentiful harvest. The psalmist expresses hope that after all this suffering that they are undergoing, they will once again find joy.  

            At his resurrection Jesus was able to ask the Father to bring deliverance to all those in the bondage of sin and death. He had submitted to the Father in the humiliation of the cross and now he is glorified in the splendour of the resurrection. He had used similar images as this psalm in his teaching. He spoke of the grain of wheat that must die to bear fruit. He compared the future Kingdom to the harvest. And he gave hope to his disciples, saying, “So it is with you: you are sad now, but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy” (Jn 16:22).

            As we read and pray this psalm, let us be aware that God can turn things around. He is able to bring back the impossible in a situation of hopelessness. Hope is not a vague desire that good things will eventually come our way. It is a certain attitude which holds that God will finally bring a joyful result in the face of uncertainties. The early Church Fathers used to say that this is the pedagogy of God: to teach us that through chastising he will bring an even greater gift. All he needs is our cooperation: St. Augustine would say that God who created us without our knowing will not save us without our willing. We go on praying and working with the certitude that God is slowly bringing the eschatological harvest to fruition.