When Our Mouths Were Filled with Laughter

This post is the third in a series adapted from Anticipating His Arrival, a family Advent devotional by Rick Brannan. We will be posting one devotional a day through Christmas.

Psalm 126

When Yahweh restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like dreamers.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“Yahweh has done great things for these people.”
Yahweh has done great things for us;
we are glad.
Restore, O Yahweh, our fortunes
like the streams in the Negeb.
Those who sow with tears
shall reap with rejoicing.
He who diligently goes out with weeping,
carrying the seed bag,
shall certainly come in with rejoicing,
carrying his sheaves.

Discussion Questions

Why are the people in the psalm rejoicing?

Response: The people are remembering when Zion (Jerusalem) has been restored (v. 1).

What are the people mentioned in the psalm asking?

Response: The people are requesting their restoration like Jerusalem had been restored in former days (v. 1, 4). When they are restored, there will be great rejoicing. They are now sowing with tears, but when the time comes to reap, they will reap with joy (v. 5).

How does this relate to joy during the Advent season?

Response: In the same way that those in the psalm remembered the past restoration of Jerusalem to find joy in their future restoration with the Lord, those who are his should also rejoice as the second coming of Christ approaches.

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