Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 126:5

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 126:5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. — This is either a maxim which they gather from their own history, or it is a fact which they are now witnessing. We see the benefit of humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God; we have now a sweet return for our bitter tears. Or, We have sown in tears; now we reap in joy. We are restored after a long and afflicting captivity to our own country, to peace, and to happiness.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalms 125-128 Lessons from Jerusalem

As the worshippers journey towards Jerusalem, they recall some of the varied experiences that the city has passed through. They see these as typical of the experiences of God’s people as a whole. Believers are like Jerusalem in that they are completely secure and fully protected (125:1-2). Although Jerusalem sometimes came under the rule of its enemies, God never allowed these enemies to control it for long, in case God’s people lost their devotion to him (3). In the same way God cares for the righteous and punishes their enemies (4-5).
On another occasion God saved Jerusalem from some who plundered the land and threatened to destroy the capital. Israel rejoiced in God’s loving deliverance (126:1-3). But their problems were not over. Hard work lay ahead of them if they were to restore the land. They relied on God to provide water in the dry Negeb region, but they realized that they would have to work hard and long before they could enjoy the fruits of the land again. The lesson for the travellers is that they must persevere if they are to enjoy God’s blessing (4-6).
Whether in governing Jerusalem or in building a family, people must acknowledge the sovereign rule of God. If they become nervous wrecks because of worry-filled days and sleepless nights, their faith in God is shown to be weak (127:1-2). The travellers receive a further encouragement to trust in God by the reminder that a large and healthy family is a blessing from God. It also gives a person stability, strength and honour in society (3-5)
If people’s lives are characterized by trust, obedience and perseverance, they will enjoy the blessings of personal security and a happy home (128:1-4). Wherever God dwells, whether in the sense of dwelling in the family or in the sense of dwelling in Jerusalem, his people there will enjoy his fullest blessing (5-6).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

THE PROMISE

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. For he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come home again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Isaiah wrote that, “As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). This simply means, “No tears; no converts to Christ.” This sentiment, “Coincides with the Preacher on the Mount, `Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4).”F. Delitzsch, Vol. V-C, p. 290.

“When a man’s heart is so stirred that he weeps over the sins of others, he is elect to usefulness. Winners for souls are first weepers for souls. As there is no birth without travail, so is there no spiritual harvest without pain and tears. When our hearts are broken with grief at man’s transgressions, we shall break other men’s hearts. Tears of earnestness beget tears of repentance: `Deep calleth unto deep.’“Charles Haddon Spurgeon, op. cit., p. 236.

Right here is the secret of the ineffectiveness of many Christian people’s influence over others. There is simply no tearful earnestness in their desire for their salvation.

We reject as ridiculous the notion that back of this verse is, “The ancient myth of the death of the god of fertility,”The Interpreter’s Bible, op. cit., p. 666. and that the wailing when the sower sowed the seed made it fertile! No! There is a genuine spiritual truth in this passage which was immortalized by the great Christian Church preacher, Knowles Shaw, in his hymn, “Bringing in the Sheaves.”Great Songs of the Church, Hymn No. 215.

Go then even weeping, Sowing for the Master, Tho’ the loss sustained our spirit often grieves.
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome.
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
- the 3rd verse of Shaw’s hymn.

As Delitzsch noted, the primary reference here is to the tearful hardships endured by the returnees from Babylon. “The tearful sowing is only an emblem of the new foundation-laying which really took place, not without many tears (Ezra 3:12), amid sorrowful and depressed circumstances.”F. Delitzsch, op. cit., p. 290.

Thus, as Kidner noted, “The psalm, speaking first to its own times, speaks still.”Derek Kidner, op. cit., p. 440. And what does it say to us? God’s former blessings are a pledge of others yet to come. Every dry stream should be looked upon as a potential river. Diligent work, the good seed which is the Word of God, and tearful earnestness on the part of the sower are the certain pledges of a bountiful harvest, when “We shall come rejoicing, Bringing in the Sheaves.”

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy - Though the sowing of seed is a work of labor and sorrow - often a work so burdening the farmer that he weeps - yet the return - the harvest - is accompanied with rejoicing. The truth is expressed in a general form, as illustrating the idea that enterprises which are begun under many difficulties, and which require much labor, will be crowned with success, and that the joy is more than an equivalent for all the weariness and sorrow. Thus it is in respect to the toil of the farmer; the cares and anxieties of the student; the work of conversion and repentance; the labors of the Christian pastor; the efforts of the Sabbath-school teacher; the faithfulness of the Christian parent; the endeavors of a church for a revival of religion; the zeal and sacrifice of the Christian missionary. The particular, allusion here is to the exiles, in their long and weary march to their native land. It was a work of toil and tears, but there would be joy, like that of the harvest, when, their long journey over they should again come to their native land. Compare Isaiah 9:3.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

5.They who sow in tears shall reap in joy. This sentence, in my opinion, ought not less to be extended to the future than understood of the past. The carrying away of the Jews into Babylon was to them as a seed-time; ⁽⁹⁴⁾ God having, by the prophecy of Jeremiah, encouraged them to hope for the harvest. Still, it was not without very great heaviness and anguish of heart that they were dragged into such long continued captivity. It was, as if in the time of dearth the poor husbandman, who already experiences the gnawings of hunger, were compelled to abridge himself of his ordinary food in order to provide for the coming year; and although this is a hard and distressing case, he is yet moved to sow from the hope of the harvest. The Jews then, when led into captivity, were, doubtless, no less sorrowful than he who, in the time of scarcity, casts the precious seed into the ground; but afterwards a joyful harvest followed, when they were delivered; for the Lord restored to them gladness, like that which is experienced in a most abundant increase. ⁽⁹⁵⁾ I, however, also conceive that the Prophet exhorts the faithful to patience in reference to the future. The restoration of the Church was not yet completed, and even, for the two reasons which I have a little before specified, that period was evidently the time of sowing. Although the edict of the king frankly invited the Jews to return, yet only a few of many returned, gradually and fearfully, in small companies. Moreover, those who did so were unkindly and harshly welcomed by their neighbors, and to so much trouble were they subjected that their former bondage appeared equally tolerable. Whence we gather, that they had still to suffer — the full time of harvest, not having yet arrived; and, therefore, the Prophet, not without cause, exhorts them strenuously to labor, and to persevere in the midst of continual difficulties without fainting, until they found themselves placed in more favorable circumstances. With respect to the words, some translate. משך , meshech, a price; and others, a basket or seed vessel. ⁽⁹⁶⁾ For the latter translation there is no foundation. Those who translate price quote in support of their version that passage in the book of Job 28:18 “The price of wisdom is above rubies.” But as the verb משך, mashach, from which this noun is derived, signifies to extend or to draw out, it may perhaps, both here and in that other place, be more fitly taken in its proper signification. In the text quoted from Job it is profound wisdom, and not intellectual acuteness, which is commended, and thus the extending of wisdom, that is to say, a continual course of wisdom, is, from its being deeply grounded, better than pearls. In like manner, in the passage before us, the drawing out of the seed is applied to the husbandmen themselves, implying, that they extend and prolong their life when they sow. If, however, the word price is preferred, the sense will be, that when corn is scarce, seed is committed to the ground with tears, because it is precious and costly. This doctrine extends still farther. Our life is, in other parts of Scripture, compared to the seed-time, and as it will often happen that we must sow in tears, it becomes us, lest sorrow should weaken or slacken our diligence, to raise our minds to the hope of the harvest. Besides, let us remember that all the Jews who were carried captives into Babylon did not sow; for as really among them, who had hardened themselves against God and the Prophets, had despised all threatenings, so they lost all hope of returning. Those in whom such despair brooded were consumed in their miseries; but those who were sustained by the promise of God, cherished in their hearts the hope of harvest, although in a time, of extreme scarcity they cast their seed into the ground, as it were, at venture. In order then that joy may succeed our present sorrow, let us learn to apply our minds to the contemplation of the issue which God promises. Thus we shall experience that all true believers have a common interest in this prophecy, That God not only will wipe away tears from their eyes, but that he will also diffuse inconceivable joy through their hearts.

(94) “Fuit Judteis sun migratio sationis instar.” —Lat. “Le tranaport des Juifs en Babvlone leur a este comme un temps de semence ” — Fr

(95) The word then may be prefixed to this verse: then, ie., when thou hast brought back the captives, they that sowed in tears shall reap in joy.” —Cresswell.

(96) “משך. This word has been variously interpreted; for as it is found only here and in Job 28:18, its signification is uncertain. In the Syriac we have it rendered by a word which signifies a skin and hence J. D. Michaelis proposes to take משך for a sack made of skin. So Aben Ezra thinks ‘that it is the name of a measure in which there is seed.’ The author of Mendlessohn’s Beor, approves of this comment, and observes, that משך was a small cup made of skin.’ The root is משך, to draw out.’ We should, however, adhere as strictly to the meaning of the root if we render the expression as Gesenius has done, by the drawing of the seed, i.e., the strewing or sowing of the seed. I think, however, Michaelis’s rendering is the best, as fitting with the preceding word גסא; and so we have carrying the sack of seed, at the end of the first hemistich, which corresponds with carrying his sheaves at the end of the second.” —Phillips. On the margin of our English Bible it is “seed-basket.” Street reads, “Bearing the vessel with the seed;” Horsley, “He that goeth, and weeping beareth the seed to be drawn forth; French and Skinner, “Bearing seed for his sowing;” Fry, “Sowing his seed,” observing, that משך expresses the action of casting the seed into the ground; and Walford, “Carrying seed for sowing.” “Literally it is,” says Cresswell, “a drawing forth of seed, i.e., as much as the sower, putting his hand into whatever contained the seed, could take out at once. Amos 9:13.”

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 126:1-6 :

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion ( Psalms 126:1 ),

Or when the Lord actually freed Zion from her captivity,

we were like those who dream ( Psalms 126:1 ).

How many times when we see the glorious work of God, it's just like being... it's just like a dream. It's just hard to comprehend. As the children were singing tonight, I was like one who was dreaming. I pastored little churches for so many years, when you dreamed of having a children's choir. And all of the efforts and time and all that we've put in in trying to develop something, and then to just see God do it. You're just sitting there; you're like one who's dreaming. I look at what God has done here, and it's like a dream. There's something that the reality has not yet sunk in. It's funny how that so often in my dreams I dream that I'm back pastoring one of the churches that I've pastored in years gone by and still struggling, and that whole struggle. And I dream that I'm... Man, when I wake up, I think, "Oh no, this is the dream, you know. This can't be real." God's glorious work that we see.

And so the psalmist, "When God worked, delivered Zion, we were just like those that dream." So excited in what God was doing. It just... the reality of it just hardly seem to register.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD has done great things for them ( Psalms 126:2 ).

Oh, how neat it is to just have that kind of joy and freedom to just be able to laugh over the good things that God does.

The LORD has done great things for us; whereof we are glad ( Psalms 126:3 ).

Then the prayer.

Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. For they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him ( Psalms 126:4-6 ).

I think that herein is speaking of really the ministry in a sense. Jesus when He spoke of the sower going forth planting the seed, some fell on the wayside, some among the rocks and some among the thorns, others on good ground. Jesus likened the field that was being sown as the world; the seed is the Word of God. And I think that the reference here is much the same as similitude, as we see being the Word of God, and "they that go forth weeping, bearing the precious seed, shall doubtless come again. Those that sow in tears shall reap in joy." I think that the attitude with which we go forth is so important.

Paul the apostle said, "For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the glory may be to God, and not of us" ( 2 Corinthians 4:7 ). The glorious treasure of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the glorious treasure of the Word of God, it's in this earthen vessel. Jesus Christ dwelling in me, the most valuable thing in the universe in this cheap, common clay pot. Earthen vessel is a clay pot. It's a pot made out of earth, out of clay. So God has taken the glorious treasure and He has put it in this common old clay pot. Now anytime I think that this pot is important, then I'm a crackpot. God did the ridiculous. In order that we would not glory in the pot, in the vessel, but that we would glory in the contents.

Now God wants me to pour forth His love to the needy world around me in such a way that they are captivated by Him, not by me. That they're drawn to Him, not to me. So my attitude in going forth is so important. For if I go forth in a haughty attitude, "Well, here I am, you lucky people, you know." And you go forth with this haughty air, God will put you down. "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted; and he that exalteth himself shall be abased" ( Luke 14:11 ). And God has interesting ways of abasing a person. Just really letting you fall right on your face in front of everybody. You know, just when you're trying to show how graceful and how marvelous you are, zoom... right on your nose.

In going forth it should always be with that sense of awe. "Oh God, I am nothing. But what a glorious treasure I have to share with the world. What a privilege to be a servant of God and to be the instrument through which God works." Never, "Oh God, I understand why You chose me. You've made a good deal when You got me, Lord."

I heard of this church that had just called a new minister fresh out of seminary and he had graduated magna cum laude and he really thought that he had it all together. And so his first Sunday morning, he came in dressed impeccably, cuff at the right length and his sermon was just homiletically perfect, and you know, just everything was just, I mean, he was the epitome of perfection. Came in with that, "Folks, I've got it together" kind of an attitude, you know. And, "How fortunate you are that you called me to be the pastor of your church."

But as he tried to deliver his message, he got confused. He got mixed up. He lost his place. He couldn't get it together. The thing just fell apart and was in shambles. And finally he just stood there, and he was just so confused he couldn't say anything. And he just broke down and he started to weep. And he turned and left just broken, when a dear little saint down towards the front turned to her friend and said, "If he had come in like he went out, he would have gone out like he came in." That's pretty much what this psalm says. "He who sows in tears will reap in joy." Going forth weeping, bearing the precious fruit, you'll doubtless come again bringing the harvest, the sheaves with you. Our attitudes--so important. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 126

This community lament psalm of ascent appears to date from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah when the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity. The writer rejoiced in the Israelites’ return to the land (sometime after 538 B.C.) but prayed for a complete restoration.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

3. Prospect for future richness 126:5-6

For the returned exiles, farming was a painful pursuit since the ground had become hard and wild, because no one had cultivated it. However, the farmer who worked hard could expect a rich harvest in the future. Future joy would replace present weeping. Undoubtedly the psalmist used this terminology to represent the restoration of the nation as well as its crops. This seems clear from the preceding verses. His point was that even though the Jews who had returned had a hard time reestablishing the life and institutions of Judaism, they could anticipate that God would reward their labor. It was as certain as reaping follows sowing (cf. Galatians 6:7).

The initial flush of enthusiasm and success that those who seek to honor God experience, must continue, even if the work is slow, hard, and discouraging. God’s people can look forward with hope to a rewarding harvest in the future if they faithfully persevere in carrying out the work He has ordained (cf. Matthew 13:1-8; Matthew 13:18-23; Galatians 6:9).

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. A proverbial expression, encouraging faith in prayer put up for the return of the captivity, whether in a literal or spiritual sense. Praying or seeking the Lord is sowing in righteousness, Hosea 10:12; which is often attended with tears and weeping; the issue of them is not always seen soon: these, like seed, lie buried under the clods, but take effect and will rise up in due time: saints should wait patiently for a return of them, as the husbandman for the fruits of the earth; in due time they will produce a large crop of blessings, a plentiful harvest, which the praying saint will reap with joy; as those that prayed and waited for the redemption in Jerusalem; and as those that pray for the latter day glory, the conversion of the Jews, the fulness of the Gentiles, and the destruction of antichrist; the souls under the altar have been sowing in tears, but before long they will reap in joy, Revelation 6:9. It may be applied to the state and condition of saints in common in this life; now is their sowing time, and careful they should be that they sow not to the flesh, but to the spirit: and a sorrowful time it is, on account of inward corruptions, Satan's temptations, divine desertions, and the imperfection of their services; but before long they will reap life everlasting, reap in joy, and be in the fulness of it; now they weep, then they shall rejoice; now they mourn, then they shall be comforted.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.   5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.   6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

      These verses look forward to the mercies that were yet wanted. Those that had come out of captivity were still in distress, even in their own land (Nehemiah 1:3), and many yet remained in Babylon; and therefore they rejoiced with trembling, and bore upon their hearts the grievances that were yet to be redressed. We have here, 1. A prayer for the perfecting of their deliverance (Psalms 126:4; Psalms 126:4): "Turn again our captivity. Let those that have returned to their own land be eased of the burdens which they are yet groaning under. Let those that remain in Babylon have their hearts stirred up, as ours were, to take the benefit of the liberty granted." The beginnings of mercy are encouragements to us to pray for the completing of it. And while we are here in this world there will still be matter for prayer, even when we are most furnished with matter for praise. And, when we are free and in prosperity ourselves, we must not be unmindful of our brethren that are in trouble and under restraint. The bringing of those that were yet in captivity to join with their brethren that had returned would be as welcome to both sides as streams of water in those countries, which, lying far south, were parched and dry. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so would this good news be from that far country, Proverbs 25:25. 2. A promise for their encouragement to wait for it, assuring them that, though they had now a sorrowful time, yet it would end well. But the promise is expressed generally, that all the saints may comfort themselves with this confidence, that their seedness of tears will certainly end in a harvest of joy at last, Psalms 126:5; Psalms 126:6. (1.) Suffering saints have a seedness of tears. They are in tears often; they share in the calamities of human life, and commonly have a greater share in them than others. But they sow in tears; they do the duty of an afflicted state and so answer the intentions of the providences they are under. Weeping must not hinder sowing; when we suffer ill we must be doing well. Nay, as the ground is by the rain prepared for the seed, and the husbandman sometimes chooses to sow in the wet, so we must improve times of affliction, as disposing us to repentance, and prayer, and humiliation. Nay, there are tears which are themselves the seed that we must sow, tears of sorrow for sin, our own and others, tears of sympathy with the afflicted church, and the tears of tenderness in prayer and under the word. These are precious seed, such as the husbandman sows when corn is dear and he has but little for his family, and therefore weeps to part with it, yet buries it under ground, in expectation of receiving it again with advantage. Thus does a good man sow in tears. (2.) They shall have a harvest of joy. The troubles of the saints will not last always, but, when they have done their work, shall have a happy period. The captives in Babylon were long sowing in tears, but at length they were brought forth with joy, and then they reaped the benefit of their patient suffering, and brought their sheaves with them to their own land, in their experiences of the goodness of God to them. Job, and Joseph, and David, and many others, had harvests of joy after a sorrowful seedness. Those that sow in the tears of godly sorrow shall reap in the joy of a sealed pardon and a settled peace. Those that sow to the spirit, in this vale of tears, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting, and that will be a joyful harvest indeed. Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be for ever comforted.