Psalms 126:4

A PRAYER

"Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah,

As the streams in the South (the Negeb)."

This cannot mean, "Bring us back from Babylon again"! Therefore, the RSV would appear to be correct in reading the expression, "Restore our fortunes, O Lord." Some scholars would apply it to the captives who yet remained in Babylon, preferring to live there, because they were "Unwilling to leave their possessions," as Josephus said.[10] However, we cannot accept such a view as a legitimate meaning of what is written here.

This is a prayer for a refreshing season of God's blessings, as Briggs thought, "Probably a desire for good crops."[11] If the occasion was what it here seems to be, Malachi has the explanation of why the people might have been praying for prosperity. "They were robbing God"! (Malachi 3:8-10).

This passage is an appeal to the evidence of God's power in nature. The water courses in the Negeb (desert) all dry up during the dry season, but spring to life when the rains come. Israel is here praying that a similar refreshing may come to them. The Christian Hymn entitled "There shall be Showers of Blessing"[12] is based upon these precious words.