03B*
A Call to Worship
Advent 3B 2017
Psalm 126

We come together to ask God some questions about suffering people:
We ask: “…Who will comfort my people? Who will wipe their tears…?”1

We come together to ask God about people who are very distressed:
“…who will heal the broken hearted? Who will bind up wounded souls….?”1

With joy we celebrate God’s response: “… I myself will comfort my people,
I will speak to their hearts, I myself will lead them through darkness…”1
God also responded: “… I myself will comfort my people, I will speak to their
hearts…I hear the cry of my people, I know the hunger of my poor, I share
the pain of the broken, I feel the shame of those who fail….I will be their God….”1 Amen.

Psalm 126
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 When the LORD brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,
it was like a dream!
2 We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said, “What amazing things the LORD has done for them.”
3 Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!

4 Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert.
5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
6 They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Prayers of Thankfulness and Petition
Advent 3B 2017
Psalm 126

With joy and with hearts filled with thankfulness and praise, we come to God with
our concerns. We have been so very blessed with God’s gifts and we offer our
praises to God for the faithful fulfilling of all God’s promises. We also come to God
to pray for people in trouble; for people suffering from trauma to their minds, bodies
or spirits; and for people suffering at the hands of their leaders who show no sense
of compassion for their needs. There are times when we dare to ask God: “…Who
will comfort my people? Who will wipe their tears…?”1 We give thanks for God’s
reassuring response: “… I myself will comfort my people, I will speak to their hearts,
I myself will lead them through darkness…”1 We praise and thank our Faithful God!

At this time of joy-filled anticipation, when we once again celebrate God’s faithfulness
and love towards vulnerable people; we also remember with remorse the people we
have failed to care for or to support in their neediness; for people who are lonely and
isolated; and for people who know all too well the misery of domestic violence. We
come to ask God for answers to this question: “…who will heal the broken hearted?
Who will bind up wounded souls….?”1 We give thanks for our God’s compassionate
response and challenge to us: “… I myself will comfort my people, I will speak to their
hearts…I hear the cry of my people, I know the hunger of my poor, I share the pain of
the broken, I feel the shame of those who fail….I will be their God….”1 The challenge
for us is to be God’s instrument of peace, love, compassion and joy to those in need.

God of mystery and miracle and God of compassion and blessing: we pray that you will
speak to the hearts of your people, that we each may bring the bright light of God’s love
to guide us in our caring and compassion for vulnerable people; may we offer hope that
sustains people; and that the strength of God’s protection will always surround them.
May we plant seeds of hope and joy each day wherever we go and with whom ever we
meet, so that the gracious mercy of our God may be seen and celebrated everywhere. Amen.

A Personal Meditation
Advent 3B 2017
Psalm 126

Various scholars have suggested that Psalm 126, especially verses 1-3 are a lived
or learned experience of “coming home” to Jerusalem after an earlier disaster had
forced the population either into exile in Babylon; or after a previous battle that caused
great disruption to their way of life; and the living out of their faith and worship of
YHWH. Verses 4-6 are a prayer for a new rescue by God from their current and
unidentified situation. Other scholars have suggested that this is a “I have a dream”
concept with a heavy emphasis this being a dream-like fantasy; or a longing and a
yearning for the “if only...”! Wishful thinking and dreaming of better times have their
place – but there are times when we must face our situation’s reality - and act in faith.

Creative pause: What is the difference between wishful thinking and “I have a dream”?


The theme for the third Sunday in Advent is “Joy”; and the psalmist “…sang for joy...”
over the blessings of the word: “…‘shavot’, which occurs in verses 1 and 4 is a
technical term that refers to a complete reversal of fortune that is wrought by the
inscrutable power of God…The word is peculiarly utilized in exilic texts to refer to
the homecoming of the Jews from deportation brought about by the power of God…”2
This refers to the psalmists exclaimed comments: “...What amazing things the LORD
has done for them. Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!...” What
joy indeed when people of other nations, cultures and traditions recognise God’s works!

Creative pause: Have you ever pondered over “…the inscrutable power of God”?2


Song-writer, singer and spirituality leader Monica Brown asks questions in one of her
songs on behalf of the distraught people of God: “Who will comfort my people? Who
will wipe their tears? And who will heal the broken hearted? Who will bind up wounded
souls? And God responds with these words: “…I myself will comfort my people, I will
speak to their hearts, I myself will lead them through darkness, I will be their God….
See how the darkness is fading, see how the dawn now breaks through, see how the
desert is blooming, see how my Word is now fulfilled….”1 Another of Monica’s songs
celebrate the holiness of joy! “Blessings before me, blessings behind me, blessings above
me, blessings below. All around me, deep within me may your blessings be, O gracious
One. Bright light to guide me, warm light to shelter me, hope to sustain me and strength
to protect; love surround me, peace within me; may your blessings be, O gracious One.”3
These words are true to God’s faithfulness and the promise of harvest from planted seeds.

Creative pause: “… hope to sustain me and strength to protect…”3


1 From “Comfort my people” CD Track 1
“Who will comfort my people?”
Words and music by Monica Brown
© 2002 Monica Brown & Emmaus Productions
Used with personal permission

2 Text by Professor Walter Brueggemann & William H Bellinger Junior
from “Psalms” Psalm 126, page 541
© 2014 Cambridge University Press

3 From “A Hearts Journey” CD track 10
Words and music by Monica Brown
© 2010 Monica Brown & Emmaus Productions
Used with personal permission

Acknowledgements:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

*Revised Indexing Scheme from 'Consultation on Church Union' (COCU).

I acknowledge and give heartfelt thanks for the theological help and inspiration so frequently available from the writings of Professor Walter Brueggemann and Professorial brothers Rolf and Karl Jacobson; and the resources from "The Text this Week" (Textweek).

If the Prayers and/or Meditation are used in shared worship, please provide this acknowledgement:
© 2017 Joan Stott –‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year B. Based on verses from Psalm 126.
Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au
www.thetimelesspsalms.net

Download/view a pdf file of this document here: advent3b_2017.pdf