Martin Luther on Psalms 126:1

The .126. Psalme. VVhen the Lord brought agayne, &c.

The argument of the Psalme. Touching the captiuitie whereof the Prophet speaketh in this Psalme, the interpreters doe not agree. Some vnderstand it to be means of the captiuities of Babylon: some of the captiuitie vnder the Romanes: other some doeth take that the Prophete meaneth here all the captiuitie and deliuerances of this people, according to that promise, Deut. 40. That if they should at any time be ledde into captiuitie for their transgressions, and by repentance shoulde returne vnto the Lord, he would shew mercy vnto them, and bring them home into their land againe. Of what maner of captiuitie this Psalme treateth. But in myne opinion they goe neare to the true sense and meaning of the Psalme, which doe referre it to that great & general captiuitie of mankind [illegible: 1 letter]nder sinne, death, and the deuill: & to the redemption purchased by the death and bloodsheding of Christ and published in the Gospel. For this kind of speech which the Prophet vseth here, is of greater importance then that it may be applyed onely to these particular captiuities. For what great matter was it for this people of the Iewes being as it were but a litle handfull, to be deliuered out of temporall captiuitie, in comparison of the exceeding and incomparable deliuerance whereby mankinde was s[illegible: 1 letter]e at libertie from the power of their enemies, not temporall but eternall, euen from death, Satan, and hell it selfe, Wherefore we take this Psalme to be a prophecy of the redemption that should come by Iesus Christ, & the publishing of the Gospell, whereby the kingdom of Christ is aduaunced, death and the deuill, with all the powers of darkenes are vanquished. This Psalme being thus generally vnderstand, may afterward be applyed to euery particular deliuerance.

Verse. 1. VVhen the Lorde bringeth againe the captiuitie [or captiues] of Syon, we shall be like them that dreame.

By Syon is signified that people which had the promise of the comming of Christ. For redemption and saluation was first promised to the people of Syon and to the children of Abraham after the flesh. This people was in bondage vnder the lawe, and by the lawe, vnder the captiuitie of death and sinne. Now, if this people complaine of their captiuitie, and sigh for their deliuerance, what [illegible: 2 letters]all we thinke of the Gentiles which liued in idolatry, & in their owne lustes without any law, & without God. He could not therefore haue signified a more generall and more greeuous captiuitie, then when he saith that his owne people of Syon did long for this deliuerance, which in outward appearance was moste holy, & vnder Dauid and Saul did mightely flourish. But beholde how liuely [illegible: 1 letter]e setteth foorth that ioy which should followe this deliuerance. We shall be, saith he, like them that dreame. By this kinde of speech he expresseth the greatnes of their ioy, meaning that this ioy and gladnes should be so great, that the hart of man should not be able to conceiue it. As if he should say: when we shall heare of, yea when we shall in deede feele and enioy this deliuerance from sinne & death, so farre passing all that we could hope or looke for, the ioy therof shall be so great, that it shall seeme to vs but vs a [illegible: 1 letter]reame. For so we see it come to passe also euen in particular deliuerances, when God suddenly deliuereth his seruaunts out of an[illegible: 1 letter] great trouble or affliction. Act. 12. So it hapned to Peter when he was deliuered by the Angell out of prison. Likewise when it was said to Iacob: Ioseph thy sonne liueth, and ruleth ouer all the land of Egypt: he was as one reysed out of a dreame, Gen. 45. and could not beleue it vntill it was shewed vnto him by certaine tokens to be true in deede.

Here then is set foorth vnto vs the inestimable grace whereby we are redemed, through the blood of the sonne of God, who did not spare him selfe and his owne life that he might set vs free from the power of the deuill the wrath of God, death and eternall damnation. But mans hart is not able, as is said, to comprehende these thinges. The more feeling and [illegible: 1 letter]ast he hath therof, the greater alacritie & courage hath he to goe through all daungers. The lesse feeling he hath, the more he is shaken with terrours, and at the length looking backe to Egypt with the Israelites, seeketh other helpes▪ Our heart therfore must wholly rest in this redemption, & we must labour to haue some part of this tast and feling which the Prophet rightly compareth to a most ioyful & pleasant dreame.

They that further list to inlarge this inestimable benefite of Christ or this deliuerāce, haue here occasion to amplyfie the same, first by the person of the redemer, then by ye person of the redemed, by their former state and misery, of the power of the deuill, of the hugenes and horrour of death, of the force of sinne, &c. For these things had wholly deuoured all mankind, & could not be ouercome but by ye sonne of God. This is that vnspeakeable & most glorious redemption, which rauisheth & astonisheth ye mind with ioy. They therefore that feele not this ioy, haue not truely receiued nor felte this benefit, but the word is as a [illegible: 1 letter]ome or a froth in their mouthes.