Psalms of ascent may have been recited one at a time on the Temple steps. They may also be examples of internal steps within a psalm, perhaps as an aid to memory.
James L. Mays sees the psalm as “joy remembered and joy anticipated.” It is a psalm perfect for Advent in a tension between past and future.
The translation of restoration/release from captivity/returning are nettlesome and depend on which verb we are using from Hebrew. (see working preacher 20 ).
The alarm goes off. You murmur to yourself, but I was having such a good dream. (I won’t dream of going into any detail about the content of an especially good dream for some of us) Ps. 126 imagines what it would be if life could look like a Christmas dream. (A Christmas dream could make for a good sermon).
This is a dream not only of the future but one that would make up for a missed past, for the hurts, wrongs, pain of the past. It imagines a great reversal where tears are replaced by laughter. Instead of being paralyzed by fear, they act to do one of the great acts of confidence in a future to be willing to go out and sow seed., like contemporary farmers facing the crop for next year.
We try to decorate our lives now with so much tinsel, to act as a cover for troubles. Sometimes I think we want a white Christmas to cover over our sins and disappointments with a holiday that cannot bear the weight we place on it.
It may take the position that the future has happened in the first verses, but then pleads for change at the end. I like that perspective on prayer that one day a better future will be our past.
The emphasis here of the joy of a dream come true is linked to the English etymology of rejoice where re may have been an intensive for joy. See McCann’s refections in the NIB.
He also finds a link to Joel that never occurred to me
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