John Calvin Commentary Psalms 126:5

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." — Psalms 126:5 (ASV)

They who sow in tears shall reap in joy. This sentence, in my opinion, should not only be understood of the past but also extended to the future. The carrying away of the Jews into Babylon was to them like a seed-time, as God, through the prophecy of Jeremiah, had encouraged them to hope for the harvest.

Still, they were dragged into such long-continued captivity not without very great heaviness and anguish of heart. It was as if, in a time of scarcity, a poor farmer, already experiencing the gnawings of hunger, was compelled to deprive himself of his ordinary food to provide for the coming year. Although this is a hard and distressing situation, he is still moved to sow by the hope of the harvest.

So, when the Jews were led into captivity, they were doubtless as sorrowful as one who, in a time of scarcity, casts precious seed into the ground. But afterwards a joyful harvest followed when they were delivered, for the Lord restored gladness to them, like that which is experienced in a most abundant increase.

However, I also understand that the Prophet exhorts the faithful to patience concerning the future. The restoration of the Church was not yet completed. Indeed, for the two reasons I specified a little earlier, that period was evidently the time of sowing. Although the king's edict openly invited the Jews to return, only a few of the many returned, gradually and fearfully, in small groups.

Moreover, those who returned were unkindly and harshly welcomed by their neighbors. They were subjected to so much trouble that their former bondage seemed just as tolerable. From this we gather that they still had to suffer, because the full time of harvest had not yet arrived. Therefore, the Prophet, not without cause, exhorts them to labor strenuously and to persevere in the midst of continual difficulties without losing heart, until they found themselves in more favorable circumstances.

Regarding the words, some translate משך (meshech) as 'a price,' and others as 'a basket or seed vessel.' There is no foundation for the latter translation. Those who translate it as 'price' quote in support of their version the passage in the book of Job 28:18: The price of wisdom is above rubies. But since the verb משך (mashach), from which this noun is derived, signifies 'to extend' or 'to draw out,' it may perhaps, both here and in that other passage, be more appropriately taken in its proper meaning.

In the text quoted from Job, it is profound wisdom, and not intellectual acuteness, which is commended. Thus, the extending of wisdom—that is to say, a continual course of wisdom—is better than pearls because it is deeply grounded. Similarly, in the present passage, the drawing out of the seed is applied to the farmers themselves, implying that they extend and prolong their life when they sow.

If, however, the word price is preferred, the sense will be that when grain is scarce, seed is committed to the ground with tears because it is precious and costly. This doctrine extends even further. Our life is, in other parts of Scripture, compared to the seed-time. And since it will often happen that we must sow in tears, we ought to raise our minds to the hope of the harvest, so that sorrow does not weaken or reduce our diligence.

Besides, let us remember that not all the Jews who were carried captive to Babylon sowed. For indeed, those among them who had hardened themselves against God and the Prophets, and had despised all threats, consequently lost all hope of returning. Those in whom such despair brooded were consumed in their miseries. But those who were sustained by God's promise cherished the hope of harvest in their hearts, even though in a time of extreme scarcity they cast their seed into the ground, as it were, taking a chance.

Therefore, so that joy may follow our present sorrow, let us learn to apply our minds to contemplating the outcome which God promises. Thus we will experience that all true believers have a common interest in this prophecy: that God will not only wipe away tears from their eyes but will also diffuse inconceivable joy throughout their hearts.