All Burdens are Necessary

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].” (Ps 126:6 AV)

This verse is often spoken of in the context of witnessing for Christ.  The background to this psalm is the captivity.  As they were carried away to Assyria and Babylon, this psalm was one that was sung.  It was meant to be a reality check with a thought of hope.  As Israel went away into captivity, they took seed with them.  They wept because of their failure to follow Jehovah God.  They knew an entire generation would pass away as residents of a pagan kingdom with no hope of returning to their God-given estates.  They went forth with tears in their eyes because what was once precious to them had been lost.  This verse also speaks of the hope of returning.  Not just returning, but returning with the yield from which the precious seed came.  The verse is an encouragement to never lose hope and to always invest, regardless of the circumstances.  Like plant life, our investment in the things of God will result in a yield.  But there is one word here that has my heart.  That word is ‘bearing’.

When you think about it, what need would they have to bring their own seed?  After all, the Assyrians and Babylonians must have had seed upon their arrive, right?  The extra bulk and weight of seed could have been left behind in Israel.  It wasn’t like they were going to settle in a barren land.  Any wealth they could have brought with them could have gone to purchase what they needed once they arrived.  So, why carry sacks of seed with them?  They could not settle somewhere along the way and begin farming again.  They were to be carried away to a kingdom many hundreds of miles away and serve as the government’s servants.  On the face of it, making room for seed that could have easily been attained once they arrived seemed inefficient and maybe even unnecessary.  Yet they were told to bear their own precious seed.  Perhaps the seed in Assyria or Babylon was of lesser quality.  Perhaps it wasn’t the staple they were used to.  Maybe by bringing their own, they would be less reliant on their captor’s grace to survive.  Whatever the reason, they were told to bear their seed.

When I think bearing seed, I have in my mind someone carrying a sack over their shoulder.  I am sure they carried it on animals or in carts, but that is the picture I get.  There are many burdens in life.  Some good.  Some a bit harder.  This is perhaps how we need to think of this.  The sack of seed was born because a promise of hope was given.  Bearing that seed was a task.  It might have seemed like unnecessary effort given the supply waiting for them at the end of their journey.  Bearing the seed was the point.  The point was not the seed.  The point was bearing the seed.  By bearing the seed, each time their shoulder hurt from carrying it, or the ass brayed when loaded and unloaded, or it was moved from one spot to another as it rode on the cart, the captive was reminded of the hope that lay in front of him.  The discomfort and inconvenience of bearing the seed was a physical reminder of the return he would eventually enjoy.  The LORD may ask us to carry burdens we think are unnecessary.  He may ask us to carry a load that is better left for tomorrow.  Yet His purpose for the burden is to keep us in constant reminder of a promise.  The burden we carry today is evidence of hope for tomorrow.