Psalms 126:1
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. This opening verse invokes a moment of divine reversal—a return from exile that seemed impossible, dreamlike in its unexpectedness. The pastoral imagery of restoration connects Israel's political renewal to God's sovereign power over history and fate. This verse establishes the entire psalm's theme of joy emerging from despair, situating it within the liturgical memory of the exile and return. The dreamlike quality suggests both the surreal nature of deliverance and its foundation in divine promise rather than human effort.