Tears

by W. LEWIS | Category: General | Jan 1943

What a lot we are told in the Bible about tears! When tears emanate from a broken heart before the Lord they are valuable, they are golden.

Tears are common to all; to rich and poor; to the king as to the peasant. Many scriptures give us comfort concerning our tears. From Psalm 30.5 we learn that:

"Weeping may come in to lodge at even,

But joy cometh in the morning" (R.V.M.).

It was a natural thing for Abraham to weep over the death of Sarah (Genesis 23.2), as it also was for the poor, cast-out Hagar to weep in her loneliness when she thought her boy was about to die (Genesis 21.16); and what feelings arise in our hearts as we read of the gushing forth of the pent up tears of Joseph over his brethren (Genesis 45. 1)! What bowels of mercy those tears manifest!

God directs tears, as in the case of the babe Moses, whose tears affected Pharaoh's daughter so that she had compassion on him (Exodus 2.6). And did it stand alone, would not the case of Hannah as, in the bitterness of her soul, she prayed and wept sore fully justify me in saying that God-given tears are valuable, they are golden?

Stay for a moment and watch those two affectionate hearts, David and Jonathan, as they weep "one with another, until David exceeded" (1 Samuel 20.41). What love existed there!

How encouraging to read Hezekiah's experience, to whom God said, "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears," and in answering mercy lengthened out his days fifteen years (Isaiah 38.5)!

We mention briefly the scene of Ruth 1. when Naomi went forth with her daughters-in-law on the way to return to the land of Judah, when "she kissed them: and they lifted up their voice and wept " (verse 9).

Think too of the hearts of strong men like Ezra and Nehemiah bowed before the LORD in tears! They were noble men indeed, and all the more so on account of their tears.

Many of the Psalms tell us of the tearful path that David trod. He confessed,

"I am weary with my groaning;

Every night make I my bed to swim;

I water my couch with my tears" (Psalm 6.6) ;

but he could add,

"Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity;

For the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping"

(Verse 8).

Who can plum the depths of the heart of the weeping prophet Jeremiah? What yearning is revealed in his words! "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! "(Jeremiah 9.1). We turn to the New Testament and there we find the lonely, lovely Man, Christ Jesus, with tear-dimmed eyes. "JESUS WEPT" (John 11.35). What comfort and consolation are here for us as we wait a little at this scene of sorrow, and remember that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever" (Hebrews 13.8)! How can we doubt His love, His sympathy with us in all our sorrows? Strong crying and tears He knew in the days of His flesh. A passing view shews Him descending from the Mount of Olives, "And when He drew nigh, He saw the city and wept over it," thinking of its hard-heartedness and the fearful consequence of its rejection of Himself (Luke 19. 41-44).

The Lord Jesus set a high value on the tears of others. Think of the dear woman of Luke 7. in Simon's house, wetting His feet with her tears! and wiping them with her hair! Think of Mary standing at His tomb weeping! To her He appeared and said, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?" and when she told Him, He had but to say her name, "Mary," and she knew Him (John 20. 11, 15, 16). What a lasting lesson Peter is being taught as the bitter tears flow down his cheeks (Matthew 26.75)! Surely never again will he be so self-confident! The Master knew all the time that Peter fondly loved Him.

In thinking of Paul in his devotion to the Lord I am reminded of Psalm 126.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Though he goeth on his way weeping, bearing forth the seed;

He shall come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him" (Verses 5, 6).

Look for a moment at Acts 20., "Serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears " (verse 19). "By the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears" (verse 31). This indeed is the hall-mark of service. Who can tell out the story of the Cross without tears? They may not glisten on the cheek, but surely they must be in the heart. If wanting there the preaching will not count for much. Dry preaching does not commend itself; it is by speaking the word through tears that souls are begotten, not necessarily the tears that flow from the eyes, but those that well up in the heart as the blessed Lord Jesus is eulogised. "The word of the Cross is to them that are perishing foolishness; but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1. 18).

"Thus might I hide my blushing face,

While Calvary's Cross appears;

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,

And melt mine eyes to tears."

Thus briefly have I scanned a few instances where tears are mentioned in the Scriptures, and now in conclusion I draw your attention to that farewell scene in Acts 20. when the beloved Apostle is leaving the elders of Ephesus, to whom he has said, "I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more" (verse 25). When he had finished speaking, "he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more" (verses 36-38). Oh what love is manifested here! What lessons, beloved, are here for us! We weep with them that weep as we rejoice with them rejoice. Our God has a bottle for our tears (Psalm 56.8).

W. LEWIS | Jan 1943
General