Here, the psalmist is imagining what it was like for those in exile to return home. They envision this homecoming as a party filled with laughter, shouts of joy, and great rejoicing. Many reunions are not just about the celebration of seeing people we haven’t seen in a while, they are also a time to think about everything God has brought us through since we were last together. At funerals, I often hear people ask, “Why do we always wait for a funeral to get together?” It makes me wonder whether that question ever leads to a change in how we prioritize time spent with people who are important to us.
If you were going to organize a reunion of some sort, who would you most like to include – special family members, old friends, former coworkers? How do you picture such a reunion? What prevents you from stopping by, making a call, or writing a note to someone you haven’t connected with lately?
Offer a prayer today, thanking God for the people who have had an impact on your life, for those whose presence make you feel like you’ve come home.