And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
The ransomed of the Lord shall return ... - language literally applying to the return from Babylon; figuratively and more fully to the completed redemption of both literal and spiritual Israel.
Everlasting joy upon their heads - (Psalms 126:2.) Joy manifested in their countenances. Some fancy an allusion to the custom of pouring oil 'upon the head,' or wearing chaplets in times of public festivity (Ecclesiastes 9:8).
Remarks: The presence of Christ alone can change the moral "wilderness" into the garden of the Lord, yielding the lovely flowers, as well as the wholesome fruits, of righteousness. He shall hereafter manifest His presence visibly, as well as spiritually; then, indeed, all the earth shall "blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. "The glory" and "the excellency" which then shall be imparted to the regenerated world shall be ascribed, not to the creature, but to 'the Lord our God,' the Creator and King. The realization by faith of the glorious future is what is best calculated to 'strengthen the weak hands and the feeble knees' of the dispirited believer.