“. . .put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your Book?”
Psalm 56:8b
How wonderful to know that He both catches and records each one of them.
Tears.
Of all creatures created by our God, we humans are the only ones that shed tears when emotionally distraught, frightened, heavy-hearted or guilt-ridden. Even though other animals have tear ducts, their tears are basically used to wash irritants from their eyes. And, only human tears are “kept in God’s bottle and written in His Book.” Glory!!
In describing today’s Manna in Treasury of David, his beautiful commentary on the psalms, Charles Spurgeon described our tears as “briny rivulets of prayer that point us to God’s Throne of Grace and Mercy” (Heb. 4:16). Isn’t that a wonderful thought, dear Pilgrim—i.e., our tears are “liquid prayers”?
Most assuredly it is.
Again, our tears serve an important role in cleansing our eyes from impurities; but, they also are used by the Holy Spirit in helping cleanse our conscience and soul from sin. Through the Spirit He pricks our conscience. . .producing conviction. . .and, hopefully, “Godly sorrow that results in repentance” (II Cor. 7:10). And, our tears are visible evidence of a “broken and contrite heart and spirit, which the Lord God will not despise” (Ps. 51:17).
Likewise, tears often spring from a troubled soul. Heaviness of heart has a way of causing the well-spring of sorrow to begin overflowing. Great grief primes the well and prayerful supplication guides those tears to the surface, where God’s angels catch them in holy vials. Then, they are mingled with the Holy Spirit’s intercession as they are stored as incense around God’s Altar in Heaven (Rev. 8:3).
During those times when “our tears have been our food day and night” (Ps. 42:3a), we can rest assured that the Holy Spirit, our Great Comforter, knows well their reason for being and translates them into perfect Heavenly petitions according to God’s Will (Rom. 8:26-27). And, according to today’s Manna, these watery petitions are also recorded in the Lord’s Book of Remembrance as evidence of our supplication and the Heavenly Father’s provision.
Dear Pilgrim, how long has it been since hot tears of repentance or rejoicing streamed down your face? How long has it been since you wept over the sinful condition of our families, nation, world, churches, etc.? How long has it been since your tears flowed freely over a loved one or friend who’s lost and on his/her road to hell?
May the Holy Spirit help us today to remember that even our Lord Jesus Christ wept—twice that we know of (Lk. 19:41; Jn. 11:35)—and it was through His “prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death that He was heard, in that He feared” (Heb. 5:7). Then, let us ask Him to help our hearts to remain soft so that we will still be moved by the same things that move His Holy Heart.
September 7, 2011
