(Continued: An Exposition of Psalm 126)

II. ISRAEL'S PRAYER TO RETURN TO HIS NATIVE LAND
FROM HIS WORLD-WIDE DISPERSION

In His wise and loving providence and righteous government, God has ordained that prayer and intercession should figure largely in His direction and control of the world. Prayer is therefore a mighty factor in the running of the universe. "Prayer changes things." "Prayer brings victory."

We have every reason to believe that God, in turning Israel's final captivity back to Himself, will use, as He did on the former occasion, men, means, events, and the Scriptures. The Lord uses all things and makes them contribute to the advancement of His plans and purposes.

4. "Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah,
   As the streams in the South.
5. They that sow in tears shall reap in Joy.
6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing,
   Shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him"
   (Ps. 126:4-6).

The writer of Psalm 126 envisaged Israel scattered among all nations, in fulfillment of various predictions, and at the same time recognized that the faithful remnant will pray God to turn their captivity--for had He not done this very thing for them at the conclusion of the Babylonian captivity--as the streams in the South are turned? The word rendered "South" is, in the original, Negev. This term primarily means a barren, dry, desert place. Because the southern part of Palestine receives so very little rain and is, and has been for centuries, a practical desert, the term signifying such a condition was naturally used. The word Negev on the lips of the prophets and on the tongue of the Jews today who are now returning to the land is a term used to denote that dry section in the southern part of the land. According to authoritative sources its total acreage is forty-seven percent of all the land of Palestine west of the Jordan. There are, according to statistics, parts of this section of the land that receive an annual rainfall of approximately four inches. Some other portions receive as much as eight. Many times they receive much less than this. Naturally then, this is a dry desert section of the country. There are no streams in it to be turned. The imagery in the prayer, "turn again our captivity O Jehovah, As the streams in the Negev," is that of an irrigation system, in which the water runs in canals and is diverted to different sections according to the will of the men in charge of the project. The language used assumes that a highly developed system of irrigation exists and is recognized as characteristic of that section of the land.

Has there ever been any irrigation system in the Negev? There is no evidence that there had been such a project at the time of the return from Babylonian captivity. This statement being true, the psalmist was not speaking from that which was present before his eyes. Archaeologists, however, claim to find evidence that there was some irrigation in certain parts of the land at the time of the Roman occupation, which began in 63 B.C. They furthermore tell us that there was quite an extensive civilization, as is evidenced from the scattered ruins, in the Negev, throughout the Byzantine Period and on into the time of the Crusades.¹ After that Period the entire civilization of the Negev was wrecked and disappeared from the historic scene, leaving only the ruins of time as a silent witness of a flourishing past. Since then there have been very little life and activity there. In modern times some Bedouins have roved over the country at will. In the few villages found here and there live the fellahin (village dwellers) who by means of their primitive methods of agriculture wrest from the unwilling soil a scant subsistence. In view of these facts a person is driven to the conclusion that our writer, in Psalm 126, by prophetic insight and vision was carried across the Centuries to the very end of this age and saw that which is only beginning to be developed in the Negev at the present time.

In January, 1950, it was my privilege to visit the Negev, going from Tel Aviv to Beersheba. I could not, however, because of the military situation, go south of that point. It is true that I had visited the Negev in 1937, going southward from Jerusalem through Hebron to Beersbeba. I had likewise at that time been at Elath, the old Ezion-Geber, which is located at the northern end of the Gulf of Akabah. At that time there were no agricultural activity and no irrigation works. But in 1950 I saw the beginnings of such a system. New colonies were springing up here and there in different sections of the country. Deep water wells were being drilled, and huge water pipes were being laid to convey the water to various sections of the land for irrigation purposes as well as for human consumption. According to the Lowdermilk plan vast dams are to be built across gorges and canyons of the mountains of Southern Judaea to hold the water that falls in the mountains during the rainy season. This water is to be released, according to plan, to run hydroelectric plants. It also will be used for irrigation purposes. Thus there will be great irrigation canals and ditches, conveying the water from these sources to the places where it is to be used in agricultural pursuits. In view, therefore, of all these facts a person is warranted in the conviction that our psalmist was, as stated above, carried in vision from his own time across the centuries to our present day and saw that which has only begun to be developed in the Negev since the birth of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948.

According to literature and information which I obtained in Israel during my recent seventy-day visit (December 20, 1949--March 1, 1950), the Jews who are returning to the State of Israel entertain the highest hopes for the future of the Negev. There are rumors and press dispatches which indicate that oil has been discovered in that section of the land. In the Jewish-Arabic War, which broke out when the British withdrew from Palestine, the chemical plant of Palestine Potash, Inc., at the northwest corner of the Dead Sea, was destroyed by the Arabs. The Jews are now building (May, 1951) a new plant at the southwest end of the Dead Sea and the government is appropriating money to build a road from it to the main highway in order to truck the chemicals which they intend to extract from its briny water. There are some wonderful colonies is the Plain of Sharon and in the Emek (the Valley of Esdraelon), but the shift in development now appears decidedly to be to the Negev. It seems to be the overwhelming consensus of enlightened opinion that this section of the country can be developed most easily and can accommodate the great influx of immigrants, that is flowing constantly to the land. (Last evening, May 25, 1951, David Ben Gurion, the Prime Minister of Israel, speaking at Hollywood Bowl and over the radio, said that the Jews are returning to their land at the rate of one thousand daily.) A surprising upsurge of development greatly surpassing everything thus far brought about, we may believe, will appear like a phantom in this southern section of the land, which is in view in the prophecy of Psalm 126:4-6.

Since God uses men, means, events, and the Scriptures in directing the course of history and in working out His plans and purposes, let us now look at this phase of our subject as it bears upon the present return of Israel to the land.

1. A Man

God always has His man, the one of His choice, the one who has the qualifications necessary for the task at hand, at the right place and at the psychological moment. Back in the winter of 1917 and in the spring of 1918, the Germans had a decided advantage over the Allies because they had the more powerful explosives. There was at that time an unobserved English-Jewish professor, a leader in biochemistry at Manchester University, England. He discovered a formula which is necessary in the manufacture of TNT. When the British Government became aware of his findings, the proper officials approached him in order that they might obtain the formula for the direly needed explosive. He refused to sell it. But England had to have it. Finally, when he was pressed, according to reports reaching me, for an answer as to what consideration would lead him to turn over this formula to the British his immediate reply was that it was free to England if she would guarantee that the Jews could build up a home for themselves in the land of their fathers, where they could live in peace. As a result of these negotiations the Balfour Declaration, which granted the Jews permission to build their home in Palestine, and which was later incorporated in the Versailles Treaty, was announced. The formula was turned over to Britain. The Allies began the manufacture of TNT, the tide of war immediately started turning in favor of the Allies, and on November 11, 1918, the armistice was signed. Thus God began using this chemist, in the initial stage of working out His plans for restoring Israel. By his unselfish patriotism, by his love for God and for his brethren, and by his love for his native land, this little-known chemist was shot like a meteor into the political heavens of the world and remains there a bright and shining star of the first magnitude, today. This man is none other than the honorable and venerable first president of the State of Israel, Dr. Chaim Weizmann.

2. Means

Not until the issuing of the Balfour Declaration in the fall of 1917 could students of prophecy recognize the direction in which the Lord, who overrules all things, was steering the course of the war. Instantly, to those students of prophecy who interpret the predictions of the Word of God in a sane and scholarly manner, came the conviction that He was preparing Israel for the return of His people. World War I has therefore correctly been interpreted as being providentially used to prepare Palestine for the Jew. Twenty-one years later World War II broke out. From the very start we who knew prophecy believed that God had a divine and holy purpose in permitting that holocaust of slaughter to break forth upon the world. As soon as the demented Hitler--a monstrosity and the very embodiment of that which Satan alone can inspire--driven by an insane prejudice launched his diabolical program of a systematic extermination of the Jews. Discerning prophetic students began to see God's purpose in permitting this terrible conflict, which was to prepare the Jew for the land. While the Jew as a nation had a passing interest in the land of his fathers, the coming of World War II caused him to see that it was absolutely necessary that he build up his home in Palestine.² As a result of World War II there has been a constant flow of Jews to the land. Thus we may conclude that the chief divine purpose of World War II was to force the Jew to quicken the tempo of his trek back to the land of his fathers and to increase the volume of the tide of immigration.

Prior to the propaganda put out by Mussolini and Hitler before World War II, the Jews who had returned to Palestine and the Arabs lived peaceably and amicably together. There were cordiality, friendliness, and co-operation between the two groups. When, however, this flood of propaganda began to flow out into the Arab world, disaffection, confusion, and hard feelings were stirred up on the part of the Arabs against the Jews. This propaganda has continued until the Arabs of other nations have misunderstood the real situation and have become hostile to the Jews.

To Abraham God threw out the warning that He would curse the one who curses him and his seed. An examination of history proves that all the nations that have had anti-Semitism in their hearts, and that have launched persecutions against the Jews have gone down, sooner or later, into oblivion. No one can entertain anti-Semitic feelings and enjoy the fullness of the blessings of God. Let us pray to Him that if there be any feelings of animosity against the Jews, He remove it from our hearts, and that He may plant in its stead a love for His ancient people, who are still "beloved for the fathers' sake" (Rom. 11:28).

3. Events

This great Jewish immigration into Palestine brought about many complications and raised numerous problems. One of the outstanding difficulties was the conflict between the Jews and the Arabs. The Arabs in the land, having the sympathy of the seven Arabic nations constituting the Arab League, opposed Jewish immigration to Palestine. The conflict has continued growing more critical with the passing of the years. Finally, Great Britain, under the pressure of circumstances, decided to give up the mandatory power over the country. The United Nations wanted to partition³ the land, giving certain portions to the Arabs and other sections to the Jews, and at the same time having certain strategic localities under the supervision of the United Nations. To this scheme both Jews and Arabs objected.

When the partitioning of Palestine was being hotly debated in the United Nations Assembly,† little did the world leaders* dream of their being on the eve of an epochal event that will eventually change the entire history of the world. But He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep (Ps. 121:4). He watches over His word to perform it (Jer. 1:11,12). The historic hour struck at 4:00 P.M., May 14, 1948, when England withdrew her forces from Palestine and gave up the mandate over the country. At that epochal moment the new State of Israel was born--a development of breath-taking importance. The unexpected, the inexplicable from the human point of view, appeared with lightning rapidity before the startled gaze of a dazed world. A modern miracle was wrought before the blinded eyes of unbelieving mankind. A new State, a force that must be reckoned with from now and onwards, appeared as out of nowhere and stands a stern reality on the international stage--with a grim and determined look toward the uncertain future. It is growing in importance daily. The representatives of Israel must sit in the councils of the nations and help cast the deciding vote on world problems.

Everything connected with the rebirth of the State of Israel is manifestly an exhibit of divine intervention. Throughout the Jewish-Arabic War occurred many things that remind us of the exploits of faith seen in the Old Testament. Truly the Jews in the State of Israel can say with the psalmist:

1. "We have heard with our ears, O God,
   Our fathers have told us,
   What work thou didst in their days,
   In the days of old.
2. Thou didst drive out the nations with thy hand;
   But them thou didst plant;
   Thou didst afflict the peoples;
   But them thou didst spread abroad.
3. For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword,
   Neither did their own arm save them;
   But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the
   light of thy countenance,
   Because thou wast favorable onto them"
   (Ps. 44:1-3).

For example, in the critical Battle of Jerusalem the Jews had only two machine guns in opposing the Arab army. They devised a gadget that made a noise like the rattle of a machine gun. These they placed all along the line. At the same time they moved the two machine guns to different positions and used them a little while before moving them farther down the line. They had used all their ammunition--until they had only one cartridge left--when the armistice, imposed by the United Nations, stopped the hostilities. God timed all the events and gave Israel the victory. One night in the Negev one man, driving a jeep--in which was placed a fluorescent dummy and a loud-speaker screaming out "Surrender!"--routed an entire Egyptian army. To this lone man those that could not escape surrendered. Many miraculous events of the war are similar to those recorded in the Biblical account.

Palestine is recognized in the Scriptures and by students generally as being the center of the earth. This is proved by a glance at a world map. Anciently it used to be called the bridge of the nations, because the nations in North Africa, Southern Europe, and Western Asia in their commercial relations and military operations had to go through Palestine. It has lost none of its ancient, strategic importance. This land God gave to His Chosen People whom He selected from above all other nations (Deut. 7:6) to be His own possession. Israel has been aptly called the "hub of the nations." That this statement is true is easily seen by the fact that God declared:

"8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
When he separated the children of men,
He set the bounds of the peoples
According to the number of the children of Israel.
For Jehovah's portion is his people;
Jacob is the lot of his inheritance''
(Deut. 32:8,9).

From this quotation it is clear that God, in His distribution of the world to the various tribes, gave to each his portion; but, in doing so, He related each one's inheritance to Israel. The eyes of the Lord are upon the land of Israel from the beginning of the year unto the end of it (Deut. 11:12). He is interested in the welfare of these people, because He is yet to use them in His world-wide program of giving the truth to all races. Thus since Israel has become a nation among the races of earth--and became that in a miraculous manner--we may be certain that the time is not in the distant future when God will work through them.

4. The Scriptures

Since Jeremiah emphasized the point that Israel's regathering at the end of the present dispensation is "unto the goodness of Jehovah"--unto Jehovah himself first, and next unto the "grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil and unto the young of the flock of the herd"--obviously the spiritual phase of this turning for which the writer is praying, stands in the foreground of the petition of Psalm 126:4-6. In keeping with this interpretation, is the trend of the thought of the psalm; for in the next verses the author states:

5. "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6. He that goeth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing,
   Shall doubtless come again, with joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

The sowing here cannot be interpreted literally. This sowing, therefore, is not one of wheat,‡ or barley, oats, or rye, but is the sowing of the Word of the Living God, which the Lord will use in bringing Israel back to Himself.


Footnotes:

¹ During the time when there were some irrigation projects in the Negev, there was no return of the Jews to their land. This passage (Psalm 126) has, therefore, no connection with anything that is past.

² God works all things together and makes each event contribute to the general advancement of His plans among men. Providentially, the greatest Jewish population in any one country is now found in America. The reason for the Lord's putting so very many of them in this land of opportunity with its free enterprise and initiative was that they might accumulate wealth so that they could build up the land of their fathers. On this point hear Moses: "But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as at this day" (Deut. 8:18). In this passage God states unequivocally that it is He who gives them this power and opportunity for a definite purpose: that, "... he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers." The establishment of God's covenant with Israel involves a great outlay of money in the Jews' program of building up their land as at the present time. The Lord, therefore, brought the Jews to America, with its economy of free enterprise and big business, in order that they might accumulate fabulous amounts of money so that they can support the Zionistic program. Thus the Lord has placed, by His overruling providence into the hands of the Jews incredible sums of money, not that they might expend it upon their own pleasures, but that they might sustain the building program of the State of Israel. If the wealthy Jews of America do not willingly give their money to the building up this project, the Lord will bring it about that they will be willing to do that. Rich Jews in other countries, likewise, have been given wealth in order that they might assist in this great national home-building project--as in the days of restoration from Babylon.

³ The United Nations wanted to divide Palestine, but they thus far have been thwarted in doing this. There is, however, a prophecy which foretells that all the nations of the end time will partition it: "For, behold, in those days ... I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute Judgment upon them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink" (Joel 3:1-3). In view of this prophecy we may be certain that the nations yet will partition Palestine and wilt spew out of it the Jews who are now gathered back there. On account of this inhuman action, God will execute Judgment upon all of them, which event occurs at the end of the Tribulation.

† When the United Nations took up the question of the partitioning of Palestine, little did they know of the prophecy found in Zechariah, chapter 12, which foretells that those nations that meddle into Jewish affairs and burden themselves with Jerusalem and the Jews will incur the displeasure of God Almighty. Hear what He says: "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling unto all the peoples round about, and upon Judah also shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem. 3 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it" (Zech. 12:2,3). Thus Jerusalem becomes a cup of reeling unto all those people round about that begin to meddle into the Jewish political situation. While verse 2 has only the nations round about Palestine in mind, in verse 3 the prophet lifts his eyes and looks out upon all nations, including them in his prediction. Thus Jerusalem will become a "... burdensome stone for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded." The picture in the original is very graphic: It is that of a person who puts his hands under a large stone in an effort to lift it out of its place. Instead of moving it, as he hopes, the stone becomes heavier, weighs down upon his hands, crushes, and injures them. Thus shall it be to those nations that meddle into the Jewish political situation. Such a warning as this should be sufficient, but it seems that it is not; because the nations of the world neither know God nor the Scriptures; nor do they believe what He says. Thus they will continue to interfere with Jewish affairs and must suffer the consequences.

* From the founding of the organization of the United Nations to the present time, the leaders of the nations have consistently disregarded the Scriptures and ignored Him whom they, by Amos the prophet, are urged to seek--even "... him that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth (Jehovah is his name); 9 that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress" (Amos 5:8,9).

‡ Some interpreters have ignored the context of versus 4-6 and have interpreted the seed-sowing as that of actual, literal seed: wheat, barley, etc. The question immediately arising in connection with such an interpretation is, Why does the sower go forth, sowing his seed and weeping? The answer usually given is that the sower is planting the last of his grain, out of which he would normally make his bread, and that therefore he would do his sowing with weeping. It is true that the oriental farmers have very scant crops. But no one has ever been known to go forth sowing his seed and at the same time weeping because of the scarcity of the seed. Thus to interpret the words literally is to do violence to facts in actual practice and to disregard the context. As stated above, the sowing is that of the seed of preciousness, the Word of the Living God, in connection with Israel's return to the Lord when goes back the second time to his own land. In connection to the thought of Israel's return to God and the land, I recommend a Study of Psalms 117 and 118.

(Continued on next page)

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