March 4, 2026
Going Up, Looking Back, Keeping On
Psalm 126, one of the Psalms of Ascent, traces the pilgrim song of God’s people through three movements: going up, looking back, and keeping on. Reflecting on Israel’s restoration from exile, Alistair Begg shows how joyful remembrance of God’s past faithfulness fuels present perseverance and future hope. The psalm’s tension between remembered blessing and ongoing need points ultimately to Christ, who satisfies the soul’s deepest thirst and leads His people onward toward the new Jerusalem, where God’s presence will dwell fully with His redeemed people.
Restore Our Fortunes, O Lord
A Song of mAscents.
1When the Lord srestored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who tdream.
2Then our umouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
v“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5wThose who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Copyright © 2026, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
