Bottled Tears

"So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter." (Ecclesiastes 4: 1 KJV)

"We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them." (Isaiah 59: 10-12 KJV)

"When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more." (Psalm 39: 11-13 KJV)

"I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul." (Isaiah 38: 13-15 KJV)

The reason for all man's weeping is due to his sinful state before the Lord. The above verses testify to this fact. Our world is full of woe, grief, and tears of sorrow. In Eden neither Adam nor Eve knew what it meant to weep and to cry, to suffer pain of soul. Oh the great wailing of sinful man over the consequences of his sin! He is destined to a woeful mourning, like doves, throughout his life on earth!

It is not a wonder then that full salvation from man's fall into sin should be described as being freed from all weeping and wailing, and from all sorrow and grief.

"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it." (Isaiah 25: 8 KJV)

"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7: 17 KJV)

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21: 4 KJV)

"Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." (Isaiah 60: 20 KJV)

"Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy." (Jeremiah 31: 16 KJV)

On the other hand, the destiny of those who are not saved and forgiven of sins is described by the sinner greatly increasing his woe, of making it his permanent condition forever in the land of weeping and wailing.

"Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing." (Amos 5: 16 KJV)

"But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8: 12 KJV)

"Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 22: 13 KJV)

"And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24: 51 KJV)

"And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25: 30 KJV)

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you." (James 5: 1 KJV)

"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Matthew 24: 30 KJV)

None can fathom the great grief and woe, the flood of tears, that shall be the lot of those sinners who have refused to repent and whom the Lord shall judge when he returns from heaven.

"Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh." (Luke 6: 21 KJV)

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5: 4 KJV)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." (John 16: 20 KJV)

"But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children." (Luke 23: 28 KJV)

Even though all men suffer grief and woe, and weep and cry, especially when losses occur in life, yet generally speaking, sinful man is not a person who is a "man of sorrows," for he is characterized by Christ as "they who laugh now." It is the righteous who "weep now."

How does the world of lost sinners "laugh now" instead of "weeping now"? How do the saved "weep now" instead of "laugh now"?

Certainly the world "laughs now" in its enjoyment of the "pleasures of sin." (Hebrews 11: 25 KJV). He loves and delights in his sinful lifestyle, for he "drinks in iniquity like water." (Job 15: 16 KJV) Yes, he often grieves over the calamitous results and adverse consequences for his sins, for his lying, stealing, unbelief, etc., but he nevertheless turns not his heart to the Lord who is smiting him.

How then does the Christian "weep now"?

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." (Romans 12: 15 KJV)

Christians weep vicariously for others. They do it spontaneously and regularly because they care for others, loving their neighbors as Christ commanded. Oh how many more Christians would weep for sinners and for the oppressed as did Christ! And as did the apostles and the early Christians!

"My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God." (Job 16: 20 KJV)

"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 KJV)

"But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive." (Jeremiah 13: 17 KJV)

"Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?" (Job 30: 25 KJV)

"Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?" (Joel 2: 17 KJV)

"And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews...Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." (Acts 20: 18, 19, 31 KJV)

Thus, the Lord's people are a people who weep and supplicate for others, having genuine empathy and concern for them in their griefs and woes, and this is one of the ways that they "serve the Lord with tears."

On the other hand, most of the tears the world sheds vicariously out of concern for the poor and suffering, for those who weep, are "crocodile tears." Most of the tears that sinners shed when suffering the tearful consequences of their sin and spiritual foolishness, is also lacking in any real spiritual quality, for there is no repentance toward God, nor hatred of sin, nor desire to turn from it, but only to escape the consequences of it.

Many wicked depraved sinners are religious. Of this the scriptures and general observation will attest. But, the religion of the sinner is not the "pure religion" of God. (See James 1: 27 KJV) All man's carnal religion is "vain" (vs. 26), being pretentious, and not having the glory of God as its end, but the glory of fallen man.

Fallen sinners, in their carnal religious devotions to the false and idol gods, often are seen practicing self mutilation of their bodies, and of various kinds of self humilation and ritual lamentation, thinking that these tears and expressions of grief are means of atonement, and of self salvation, and of coming into contact with or of approaching Deity. But, tears of conviction and grief are not means of atonement for sin. No tears that a criminal sheds can remove his "guilt" or "satisfy" the "justice" of the law that condemns him.

So, what role, if any, do tears of conviction and repentance play in the experience of salvation and forgiveness? Certainly they are not the first causes of salvation, being rather effects of it, or else means for its furtherance and continuance.

"For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." (Hebrews 12: 17 KJV)

"And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand." (Malachi 2: 13 KJV)

"Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?" (Malachi 3: 15 KJV)

Here are people who cried before the Lord with the thought that their tears ought to be accepted of the Lord as an atonement for their sins. Sinners often think that salvation is as simple as them saying "I'm sorry" to the Lord. But, saying such is no atonement for sin. The only thing that atones for sin is the blood and death of Christ being vicariously made for the sinner, thus removing his "guilt" before the law, while at the same time upholding the justice of it. The tears of Esau could not restore the blessing he had forfeited. The tears of false religionists likewise will not atone for their sins. No sinner will be able to stand before God at the judgment bar and successfully plead that he should not be condemned because he said he was "sorry" and that he "felt remorse" for his sins.

"Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." (Psalm 30: 10-12 KJV)

"Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise." (Psalm 55: 2 KJV)

These are the mournful prayers that Lord God acknowledges. They do not ask Lord God to look upon their tears as reasons why Lord God ought not hold their sins against them, but rather that their tears of suffering might be observed with mercy and that Lord God would see them as and make them into godly tears. They pray that God will use the tears, and the grief, to improve them, to sanctify their mourning so that it produces good in them.

"It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 7: 2-6 KJV)

The Christian wants his "heart" to be "made better." He wants to see his inner and outer character make improvement. He does not therefore live in mirth, like the world, but lives a life as did Christ, who was a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Solomon said - "in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow." (Ecclesiastes 1: 18 KJV)

"I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly." (Psalm 6: 6-10 KJV)

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." (Psalm 42: 1-5 KJV)

"I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling." (Psalm 116: 1-8 KJV)

Thank God that sinners can and do find deliverance from their tears and sorrows even now in this life. All the salvation from tears promised are not fulfilled in the world to come or when the believer gets to heaven. Thank God that he gives to godly and spiritual mourners great joy and comfort even now! God will indeed hear graciously the genuine tears of repentance as they are directed to him and for the sake of Christ.

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4: 8-10 KJV)

"And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." (Joel 2: 11-13 KJV)

These verses call upon unrepentant sinners to weep in a godly way over their sins as opposed to gloating in their sins. It is the way of salvation.

"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared." (Hebrews 5: 7 KJV)

That was the example of Christ. Cry to the true God if you cry! Cry in faith and with hope. If one cries out of a pure heart, he will surely soon say -

"Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping." (Proverbs 6: 8 KJV)

"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me." (Psalm 56: 8, 9 KJV)

What precious words to the weeping saint! The the wayworn and forlorn faith travellor in this world! God has put all his tears in his "bottle"! Bottled tears! Those tears are precious in the sight of the Lord and are his memorial forever.

"O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure." (Psalm 80: 4, 5 KJV)

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." (Psalm 126: 5 KJV)

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalms 30: 5 KJV)

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." (Isaiah 61: 1-3 KJV)

All the tears of the saints are temporary! He has also present joy that is mixed with pain, but in the glorious future he will know nothing but the joy of the Lord.

Friend, if you are mourning over your sins and have found no joy or peace or comfort, then I urge you today to come to Jesus Christ, for he has all you need, both now and forever.