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That which was written of and for the returned exiles of Judah lends itself so accurately and beautifully to describe the history of a redeemed soul, that it seems as if that larger and higher history were meant as well as that of Judah. The same words tell of both.

I. THE SOUL WAS ONCE A CAPTIVE. Not alone the people of Zion, but every redeemed soul. It was captive once:

1. To the Law of God. That Law which was holy, just, and good, the Law of God's household, and which for the good of all his children must be maintained; but to that Law the soul was liable, for it had transgressed again and again. Unless, therefore, something was done, the sentence of the Law must he carried out.

2. To sin. The soul was carnal, sold under sin. It yielded itself as a bond slave to serve sin (Romans 6:16). And this lust makes him captive; yet further:

3. To death. Not merely the death of the body, but, what is far worse, the death of the soul.

II. ITS CAPTIVITY WAS BROKEN. From being a captive, he became one of the redeemed of God. Consider:

1. What was done. Sin was forgiven, all the guilt of the past put away. The soul became regenerate, a new heart was given; old things passed away, all things became new; the soul passed from death to life, from the power of Satan unto God.

2. Who did this? It was the Lord's doing. True, as with Judah, there was cooperation on man's part. As Judah, so had we to avail ourselves of what God had done. The soul must repent and believe, and turn from dead works to serve the living God. Unless we do this, God's mercy is in vain for us. But all this does not make it the less true that it was the Lord who turned our captivity; it was his Spirit who prompted all that was done by us; without him it had never been done at all, no part of it.

3. How was it done? Perhaps in no two instances have the same instrumentalities been employed. God has many ways of bringing men to himself. He uses now his providence, now his Word, now his Spirit, and sometimes all of them together. Only the work is done.

III. NOTABLE RESULTS FOLLOWED.

1. Surprise. "We were like them that dream" (cf. Luke 24:41). It seemed too good to be true. This a blessed experience, the rapture and delight of the soul when it realizes what God has done for it.

2. Exuberant joy. (Ver. 2, "laughter, singing.") How reasonable this, whether we think of whence we have been saved, from what terrible depths of woe; or whither, to what heights of blessedness; or by what means, the infinite love of God in Christ?

3. Confession on the part of the unsaved world. (Ver. 2.) "Then said they among the heathen," etc. Yes, the world will take note, godless men will see that a great change has come.

IV. BUT A MORE FULL SALVATION IS YET YEARNED FOR. (Ver. 4.) What has been gained is blessedness, but the soul comes soon to see how much more yet is needed. The river of the water of life in him is such a slender stream; he would have it full, flowing, in force and volume like the streams of the south when the mountain snows have melted. Hence the prayer for a second blessing, "Turn again our captivity" (ver. 4). The soul craves a complete salvation, a full deliverance. He would be cleansed from all sin, made pure in heart.

V. AND HE IS ENCOURAGED TO SEEK THIS BY THE CONSTANT EXPERIENCE OF THOSE THAT SOW IN TEARS. The pitiless rain and cold may render the toil of the sower hard, but his reward surely comes. So they who with real earnestness of heart seek the fullness of God's salvation shall surely obtain it. - S.C.

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KJV: {A Song of degrees.} When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

WEB: When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.