Psalm 126 Part 1 

The true pilgrimage in life is a journey upward to God, a pilgrimage we make with many others. However, we all know that life is an ebb and flow. It is a mixture of shadows and sunshine, need and supply, sorrow and joy, reverse, and success. In this psalm tears and sorrow become joy and laughter. 

While this Psalm appears to indicate a return to Zion from the Babylonian captivity under Ezra and Nehemiah, its history could also apply to David’s return from his brief exile during Absalom’s coup (2Sam 15-19). Hezekiah would then have used it in his tribute to release from the captivity of Sennacherib. As one of the Songs of Ascents, we can imagine these words of celebration in the mouths of pilgrims on their way to, or having arrived at Jerusalem. Being away from Jerusalem may have seemed like a personal exile. 

With power and beauty, the poet described the sense of happy, grateful astonishment at the power and goodness of God in bringing back His people from captivity. It seemed too good, too great to be true. A dream! But it was true. Like the early reports of the resurrection in Luke.24:11, or Peter’s release by the angel in Acts.12:9 it was a dream come true.  
Whether we apply this to David, Hezekiah, or Ezra’s time it remained a vivid national memory “It was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.”NLT 

If they could celebrate God’s amazing work with laughter and singing. Consider this; we have been set free from the captivity of sin and death. Should not our lives be filled with joy and laughter, and should not the onlooking ‘gentiles’ see our confident joy in the work and mercy of God.  
That is how it is! The gospel is nothing else but joy and laughter. It is “good tidings of great joy.” The Lord has done, is doing, and will continue to do great things for us – and not merely great things, but amazing things. Imagine the reunion at the resurrection of loved ones you have lost. Will that be an amazing thing!