This is another psalm recalling God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from the Babylonian exile. Because the exile lasted 70 years, few of those returning home to Judah would have ever lived there before. And yet, they felt like it was a dream come true. They celebrated with laughter and shouts of joy. This was the place where their roots were. They could be themselves, live life on their own terms, and they finally felt like they were at home.
Have you ever had an experience of coming home after being gone for a long time or after having gone through a very trying experience? What feelings washed over you when you saw the familiar sights and smelled the familiar scents and heard the familiar sounds? Were all your feelings positive or were some negative feelings dredged up as well? The scriptures promise that no matter where we find ourselves, God is with us. We are never alone. God is our home.
In your prayer time today, spend some moments in silence resting in the home of God’s presence.