January 19

1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth boed with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; where we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The word "turn" would seem to be the key-note of this song; it is a psalm of conversion—conversion from captivity; and "It may well be used to set forth the rapture of a pardoned soul when the anger of the Lord is turned away from it."

"Note the when and the then. God's when is our then. At the moment when He turns our captivity, the heart turns from its sorrow; when He fills us with grace, we are filled with gratitude. We were made to be as them that dream, but we both laughed and sang in our sleep. We are wide awake now, and although we can scarcely realize the blessing, yet we rejoice in it exceedingly."—C. H. Spurgeon.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." It is somewhat singular to find this promise of fruitfulness in close contact with return from captivity; and yet it is so in our own experience, for when our own soul is revived the souls of others are blessed by our labors.

"This sentence may well pass current in the church as an inspired proverb. It is not every sowing which is thus insured against all danger, and guaranteed a harvest; but the promise specially belongs to sowing in tears. When a man's heart is so stirred that he weeps over the sins of others, he is elect to usefulness. Winners of souls are first weepers for souls. As there is no birth without travail, so is there no spiritual harvest without painful tillage. When our own hearts are broken with grief at man's transgression we shall break other men's hearts; tears of earnestness beget tears of repentance; 'deep calleth unto deep.'"—C. H. Spurgeon.

Closet Promise.—Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.—Psalm iv. 7.

"Carry a pleasant or, at least, a placid countenance around with you. There is nothing gained by going up and down the streets with a sour, wrinkled, clouded visage. You appear to be aggravating your own misery; possibly you are making yourself miserable without real cause. Here is a dead loss of both reputation and character as regards yourself. Then, in your relation to others, you are impairing your chances and your ability to be helpful and agreeable. Whoever thinks these matters unworthy of consideration has a very distorted view of life and duty."