The psalmist voices a joyful, hopeful poetic account of the community’s life in God. But it’s written in a curious structure. It’s hard to tell what is past, what is present, and what is a hoped-for future. We can’t really tell what’s a proclamation of fact and what’s a proclamation of faith. Throughout the passage, the author moves from recounting to petition to proclaiming the good news of what God will do. Remarkably, that’s exactly what Advent does, as well.
The season of Advent reminds us that joy is tied up in longing, belief, waiting, and anticipation. Joy is born in the fullness of life’s brokenness, as well as in the fullness of God’s promise. We cry out for God even as we proclaim God’s nearness; we acknowledge our pain even as we name our blessings and as we ask for more.
Psalm 126 reflects a beautiful movement from recollection to petition to anticipation, sometimes all in the same breath. And perhaps that’s an appropriate characterization of a faithful life. Life is seldom stagnant and our minds are seldom still; we live in a swirl of memory and anticipation, anxiety and hope. The psalmist shows us that in the swirl of remembering, rejoicing, and praying for more, we can abandon ourselves to the hope and joy of God who stands beyond the constraints of time. And as we do so, we become bearers of the good news to the world—proclaiming simultaneously what God has done and what God will do, even as we cry out for God’s presence and action to join our kingdom work here and now.