Tears and Joy

Psalm 126 ~ A Joyful Return to Zion (Israel)

A Song of Ascents.

126 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

5 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

We already included this song in a previous post, but it is so very appropriate for this season.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfo-R_jkffo

Last Monday, in Israel, was Holocaust Remembrance Day.  There was a two minute siren sounded all over the country.  Everyone came to a standstill, whether on foot, in a car, train or bus - stopping in remembrance and respect of those who lost their lives, and for those who survived.

Last night at sundown began Memorial Day - remembering the soldiers who have given their lives in the wars fought since 1948, and also terror victims.  There was a siren both last night, and at 11 am this morning, just as there was last week.  When it was time for the siren last night, Jim was on a bus with a friend.  At 8 pm sharp, the bus driver stopped the bus and turned it off.  The siren began, and everyone on the bus stood together.  Wow.  That is a solidarity we've witnessed nowhere else, and our 3rd year experiencing it.

Last night and today all over the country there have been Memorial services held.  Tonight, the mourning turned to dancing as Israel shifted from Memorial Day to Independence Day.  66 years ago the modern state of Israel was declared a state - and immediately were drawn into war the next day with the neighboring enemies who did not want a Jewish state to exist in this Land.  

We want to share a video of a dance that our daughter and her team performed at an army base during their visit here a month ago.  They choreographed a dance to Hatikvah - Israel's National Anthem.  We also took a short video of the siren beginning and ending last Monday to add at the beginning and end.  It represents a people that show solidarity, have a heart that yearns for peace in their God-given homeland, fight when absolutely necessary, and go about normal life in the midst of it all.

Hatikvah (The Hope)

As long as in the heart within,
The Jewish soul yearns,
And toward the eastern edges, onward,
An eye gazes toward Zion.
Our hope is not yet lost,
The hope that is two-thousand years old,
To be a free nation in our land,
The Land of Zion, Jerusalem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckCfDqZ0DPY&feature=youtu.be

Here is another great video celebrating the heart within the people of Israel: 

Am Yisrael Chai! ~ The People of Israel Live!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voO3DXnPc-U

As we sat in our apartment in southern Jerusalem tonight, we heard the fireworks outside from downtown in city center.  As we went to the window we were able to get a pretty good view:

As Israel turns from mourning loved ones lost in the holocaust, wars, and terrorist acts, they live the Psalms as they truly "sow in tears and reap in joy".  As God brings them back to Zion, they are like those who dream - their mouths filled with laughter and their tongues with singing.  And they know that...

The Lord has done great things for them ~ and they are glad!