Listen for Laughter and Singing

Prayer – Lord, thank you for laughter and singing, but most of all for doing great things in our lives. You didn’t just do things for the Israelites in the Old Testament or for those living during the New Testament times—but You are at work in believers today. Actually, I think, You are at work in all those You love around the world—just as written… "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV

When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad. Bring back our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:1-6 NKJV

Meditate. Consider God’s harvest.

 

Modern combine in Israel.
The grain is ripe...bring in the harvest.

Bringing in the sheaves/bringing in the sheaves/we shall come rejoicing/bringing in the sheaves.

Did you ever sing that hymn in church? Since the invention of the combine in 1835, we haven’t had “sheaves” in our fields. You see them in old paintings and read about them in places like the Book of Ruth when they were harvesting barley and other grains. I sort of see God’s harvest as happening all along history—when He calls someone home and their mortal bodies die—it is harvesting time. One day there will be a great harvest—all the believers will be called home…like when God called the Jews back to Jerusalem and the Promised Land from their captivity in Babylon. Jesus spoke to His disciples about a harvest….

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! "And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.” John 4:34-36 NKJV

So, rejoice—with others with whom you are working alongside to spread the message of the Gospel. Like David wrote about the Israelites returning from Babylon, we can certainly say…The LORD has done great things for them, and for us. With answered prayers, I’m winning my battle with kidney stones, so I can say—The Lord has done great things for me. I can also say that as I pray scripture, He is helping me with my attitude and anxiety! That is a big one for a lot of people these days. How are you doing? How do you see God working in your life? Listen for laughter and singing among those who love the Lord.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2 NKJV

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted. 

New King James Version © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Harper Collins Publisher. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

New Living Translation (NLT) copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

 

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