They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
This Psalm was written after the Jewish people returned from Babylon, not as prophecy of what was to come. The poet exhorts the returning captives to give thanks, making plain that God Himself brought them home, not chance or the favor of men. The abstract noun captivity stands for the concrete captives of Zion.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 126:1-6
Present distress is not the end but only a means to it. Sorrow is the sowing; rejoicing is the reaping. If we never wept we would never know laughter; if we were never captives we could never lead captivity captive. This promise belongs specially to sowing in tears and will not fail.
AI summary
Those who returned were still in distress, and many remained in Babylon; they rejoiced with trembling. The mercy completed would be as welcome as streams of water in the parched south country. Even in prosperity we must not forget our brethren in trouble. All suffering saints may rest assured their tears will end in a harvest of joy at last.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 126:4-6