Psalm 126:2 NKJV

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.”

The Power of God’s Redemption

My Notes

Psalm 126:2 (NKJV)

“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.’”

The return from Babylon was so astonishing, so sudden, and so drenched in mercy that Israel could hardly contain the joy. The same people who once hung their harps on the willows in sorrow now burst into laughter and song. Their grief was replaced with a joy so overwhelming it felt unreal—like waking into a dream.

This is what happens when God releases us from captivity. His “when” becomes our “then.” When He delivers, then our mouths are filled with laughter. When He restores, then our tongues overflow with singing. When He moves, then joy rises like a flood.

The nations noticed. Even the surrounding peoples—who once mocked Israel’s downfall—were forced to acknowledge the hand of God. They saw what Cyrus did, but they recognized Who stood behind it. No other nation had ever been restored from exile like this. It was unmistakably divine.

This is the power of God’s redemption: It makes the watching world say, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

And this joy is not only for ancient Israel. It belongs to all who have felt the captivity of sin and death. The gospel brings a deeper laughter—a holy joy planted by the Spirit. Christ has overcome Satan, destroyed death, and taken away sin. No wonder the redeemed sing.

This verse also points forward to the future restoration of Israel and the final triumph of Christ. On that day, the joy of God’s people will again be so great that it will feel like a dream. Every sorrow will be swallowed up in singing.

It is a blessed occurrence when saints engage sinners in discussions about the lovingkindness of the Lord. Equally blessed is when the hidden saints in the world learn of the Lord’s deeds for his church and resolve to emerge from their captivity and unite with the Lord’s people. Jehovah has indeed accomplished remarkable things for his chosen, and these “great things” will bring about eternal praise among all the saints.

Prayer

Abba, thank You for being the God who fills my mouth with laughter and my tongue with singing. You have done great things for me—greater than I can fully understand. Restore joy where sorrow has lingered, renew singing where silence has settled, and let my life be a testimony that points others to Your goodness. Help me remember Your past mercies and trust You for future restoration. Fill my heart with the joy of the gospel and the hope of Your coming kingdom. I ask for these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Key Takeaways

• God’s deliverance produces overwhelming joy—laughter and singing that cannot be contained.
• The world notices when God restores His people and acknowledges His power.
• Redemption from sin brings the deepest joy, planted by the Holy Spirit.
• God’s past deliverances strengthen our hope for future restoration.
• The great things God has done for His people become a testimony that draws others to Him.

Cross‑References (NKJV summaries)

• Isaiah 35:10 — The redeemed return with singing; everlasting joy crowns their heads.
• Ezra 1:1–4 — Cyrus proclaims Israel’s release and commands support for rebuilding the temple.
• Ezekiel 36:35 — The nations will marvel when God restores His people.
• Acts 12:9 — Peter’s miraculous deliverance feels like a dream.
• Genesis 45:26 — Jacob can hardly believe the good news about Joseph.

Meditation Questions

1. When has God filled my mouth with laughter after a season of sorrow?
2. What “captivity” has He turned in my life—spiritually, emotionally, or circumstantially?
3. How can my story of deliverance point others to say, “The Lord has done great things”?
4. Where do I need to ask God to restore joy and renew singing in my heart?
5. What great things has God done for me that I need to remember today?

Proverb for Today

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:30-31 NKJV

Closing

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:34-35 NKJV

 

Bill

Posted on 12/31/2025 by Bill Stephens

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Summary of Commentaries:

Psalm 126:2 describes the overwhelming joy Israel felt when God restored them from captivity. Their sorrow turned to laughter, and their silence to singing, as God’s deliverance seemed almost too good to be true. Even surrounding nations recognized His hand, declaring, “The Lord has done great things for them.” This joy foreshadows the gospel, where God fills redeemed hearts with gladness. His great works become a testimony that draws others to acknowledge His power and goodness.

Commentaries:

Charles Spurgeon

“Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.” So full were they of joy that they could not contain themselves. They must express their joy and yet they could not find expression for it. Irrepressible mirth could do no other than laugh, for speech was far too dull a thing for it. The mercy was so unexpected, so amazing, so singular that they could not do less than laugh; and they laughed much, so that their mouths were full of it, and that because their hearts were full too. When at last the tongue could move articulately, it could not be content simply to talk, but it must needs sing; and sing heartily too, for it was full of singing. Doubtless, the former pain added to the zest of the pleasure; the captivity threw a brighter color into the emancipation. The people remembered this joy flood for years after, and here is the record of it turned into a song. Note the when and the then. God’s when is our then. At the moment when he turns our captivity, the heart turns from its sorrow; when he fills us with grace, we are filled with gratitude. We were made to be as them that dream, but we both laughed and sang in our sleep. We are wide awake now, and though we can scarcely realize the blessing, yet we rejoice in it exceedingly.

“Then said they among the heathen, the LORD hath done great things for them.” The heathen heard the songs of Israel, and the better sort among them soon guessed the cause of their joy. Jehovah was known to be their God, and to him the other nations ascribed the emancipation of his people, reckoning it to be no small thing which the Lord had thus done; for those who carried away the nations had never in any other instance restored a people to their ancient dwelling place. These foreigners were no dreamers; though they were only lookers on, and not partakers in the surprising mercy, they plainly saw what had been done, and rightly ascribed it to the great Giver of all good. It is a blessed thing when saints set sinners talking about the lovingkindness of the Lord, and it is equally blessed when the saints who are hidden away in the world hear of what the Lord has done for his church, and themselves resolve to come out from their captivity and unite with the Lord’s people. Ah, dear reader, Jehovah has indeed done marvelous things for his chosen, and these “great things” shall be themes for eternal praise among all intelligent creatures.

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Enduring Word

Then our mouth was filled with laughter: They celebrated God’s amazing work with laughter and singing. There was so much laughing that their mouth was filled with it. (Guzik)

i. “The mercy was so unexpected, so amazing, so singular that they could not do less than laugh; and they laughed much, so that their mouths were full of it, and that because their hearts were full too.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “We must raise up ourselves with this consideration – that the gospel is nothing else but laughter and joy. This joy properly pertaineth to captives, that is, to those that feel the captivity of sin and death…. These are the disciples in whose hearts should be planted laughter and joy, and that by the authority of the Holy Ghost, which this verse setteth forth.” (Luther, cited in Spurgeon)

The LORD has done great things for them: The sense of joyful amazement was not confined to the people of God. Onlooking nations had to proclaim that the work belonged to Yahweh, and that the work was truly great.

i. “The liberty now granted was brought about in so extraordinary a way, that the very heathens saw that the hand of the great Jehovah must have been in it.” (Clarke)

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Albert Barnes

Then was our mouth filled with laughter – Then were we happy; completely happy. See Job 8:21.

And our tongue with singing – We expressed our joy in songs – the natural expression of joy. Young converts – those “turned” from sin to God – sing. Their feelings find expression in the songs of Zion. This is natural; this is proper; this will occur when sinners are converted. An assemblage of young converts is always a happy assemblage; a place where there is a “revival” of religion is always a happy place, full of songs and singing.

Then said they among the heathen – The nations; the people among whom they dwelt.

The Lord hath done great things for them – In causing their return to their own land; in ordering the arrangements for it; in bringing their captivity to an end; in securing such interposition from the civil rulers as to facilitate their return. This would indicate that the surrounding people had not an unfriendly feeling toward them, but that they pitied them in exile, and were disposed to acknowledge the hand of God in what was done. Their deliverance, in the circumstances, was such as evidently to have been the work of God. This will agree well with the account of the return of the exiles from Babylon, and with all that had been done for them by Cyrus. Compare Ezra 1:1-4.

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John Gill

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,…. Who before mourned, and hung their harps on the willows, and could not sing the Lord’s song in a strange land; but now, as their hearts were filled, with joy, this was externally and visibly seen in their countenances, and expressed with their mouths and by outward gestures; it was so great, they could not contain it, to which respect is had, Isaiah 35:10. It may be rendered, “then shall our mouth be filled with laughter”; that is, when we awake, says Arama; or rather when the captivity is returned, either in a literal or in a spiritual sense, both being matter of great joy: the Midrash says, this will be in the world to come, and not in this;

and our tongue with singing; the praises of God, and the songs of Zion;

then said they among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them; it was taken notice of by the Chaldeans, among whom they had been captives, and by all the nations round about: and it was wonderful to them, that Cyrus, an Heathen prince, of his own motion and will, should at once, and without any price or reward, let them go, and send them into their own country to rebuild their temple; and with them the vessels of the Lord’s house, that had been taken away by the king of Babylon; and order men to help them, with gold and silver, and goods and cattle, Ezra 1:1. Likewise the conversion of the Jews, and the restoration of them to their own ]and in the latter day, will be observed by the Gentiles with wonder, and as the work of God, Ezekiel 36:35.

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Matthew Henry

Our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with singing. Thus, they gave vent to their joy, gave glory to their God, and gave notice to all about them what wonders God had wrought for them. Those that were laughed at now laugh, and a new song is put into their mouths. It was a laughter of joy in God, not scorn of their enemies.

The notice which their neighbors took of it: They said among the heathen, Jehovah, the God of Israel, has done great things for that people, such as our gods cannot do for us. The heathen had observed their calamity and had triumphed in it, Jer. 22:8, 9; Ps. 137:7. Now they could not but observe their deliverance and admire that. It put a reputation upon those that had been scorned and despised, and made them look considerable; besides, it turned greatly to the honor of God, and extorted from those that set up other gods in competition with him an acknowledgment of his wisdom, power, and providence.

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Miscellaneous Comments

“Then was our mouth filled with laughter,” etc. We must earnestly endeavor to learn this practice, or at the least to attain to some knowledge thereof; and we must raise up ourselves with this consideration—that the gospel is nothing else but laughter and joy. This joy properly pertaineth to captives, that is, to those that feel the captivity of sin and death; to the fleshy and tender hearts, terrified with the feeling of the wrath and judgment of God. These are the disciples in whose hearts should be planted laughter and joy, and that by the authority of the Holy Ghost, which this verse setteth forth. This people was in Zion, and, after the outward show of the kingdom and priesthood, did mightily flourish; but if a man consider them according to the spirit, he shall see them to be in miserable captivity, and that their tongue is full of heaviness and mourning, because their heart is terrified with the sense of sin and death. This is Moses’ tongue or Moses’ mouth, full of wormwood and of the bitterness of death; wherewith he designs to kill none but those which are too lively and full of security. But they who feel their captivity shall have their mouths filled with laughter and joy: that is, redemption and deliverance from sin and death shall be preached unto them. This is the sense and meaning of the Holy Ghost, that the mouth of such shall be filled with laughter, that is, their mouth shall show forth nothing else but great gladness through the inestimable consolations of the gospel, with voices of triumph and victory by Christ, overcoming Satan, destroying death, and taking away sins. This was first spoken unto the Jews; for this laughter was first offered to that people, then having the promises. Now he turneth to the Gentiles, whom he calleth to the partaking of this laughter.

—Martin Luther.

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