By nature -- I am a very emotional person.
Maybe you have noticed that about me at times.
You’ve seen me weep in the pulpit -- as I have preached with emotion.
I tend to rejoice with those who rejoice -- & weep with those you weep.
But I have shed a lot of personal tears as well!
So many tears; -- so many kinds of tears!
God created you & me with the distinct ability to be able to cry -- meaning we are inclined to shed many tears.
The Bible has a great deal to say about tears!
In the Scriptures -- we see infants weeping -- & strong men crying.
Centuries ago -- the wise King Solomon observed: -- “There is a time for everything -- & a season for every activity under heaven ... a time to weep & a time to laugh -- a time to mourn & a time to dance” (Eccles. 3:1-4).
Solomon’s father -- David -- also talked about tears.
In fact -- I am finding great comfort in one of the psalms of David -- Psalm 56 -- that has a most remarkable observation about the tears you & I may shed in our life time.
Listen carefully to what David says in Psalm 56:8 -- “Thou tellest my wanderings” -- I like the way LB paraphrases that line -- “You have seen me tossing & turning through the night.” -- “put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”
Do you hear what David is saying? -- “You (Lord God) --You keep track of all my sorrows. -- You have collected all my tears in your bottle. -- You have recorded each one in your book” (NLT).
Certainly David knew the preciousness of tears -- for he is saying that God has noted every tear that David ever cried -- & collected them each one in His bottle -- & recorded it in His eternal book.
My friend -- the Lord who notes every sparrow that falls -- also marks every consecrated tear that dims the eyes of His saints!
Every tear that has ever tricked down your cheek -- has been preserved in God’s “bottle” -- & will someday shine as jewels in a crown.
This prayer -- Psalm 56 -- was pressed out of David’s very soul -- by innumerable calamities; -- but it applies to our lives as well -- whenever we are dealing with the distressing circumstances!
It could just as well have been written by anyone of us here today in the midst of our sorrow & tears!
Are you familiar with what is called a “tear bottle”?
The history of the tear bottle is most captivating & touching.
The tear bottle tradition has endured for thousands of years.
Tear bottles -- I’ve discovered -- were prevalent in ancient Rome & Egypt -- when mourners would collect their tears & bury them with loved ones to show honor & devotion.
Tear bottles reappeared during the 19th century Victorian era -- when tears were collected in bottles with special stoppers -- & when the tears in the bottle would finally evaporate -- once gone, the mourning period ended -- but the bottle remained as a token of devotion.
In some American Civil War stories -- women were said to have cried into tear bottles -- & saved until their husbands returned from battle.
Their collected tears would show the men how much they were adored & missed.
Even today -- you can purchase tear bottles -- each tear bottle measures approx. 2” -- carefully crafted using only the highest quality material -- & offered as a loving expression of sympathy.
The amazing declaration of our text is that our tears are bottled up -- & the thing that caused the tears is put on the record in the book of the Lord!
David reminds each one of us -- that the all-knowing God is not only personally aware of our tears -- but He records & preserves them.
God has an intimate acquaintance & perpetual remembrance of all our griefs & sorrows.
The tear bottle is so symbolic of all the heart-wrenching experiences of our life!
It speaks so eloquently of the infinite interest & tender care God has for each one of His children.
What are some of these tears -- which are being gathered by God?
Let’s consider together -- some of the types of tears God is gathering!
1. God Keeps the Tears of Repentance!
Not everyone -- not everyone weeps tears of repentance!
Some people will weep -- not because of what they have done -- but only because they have been found out & caught!
God makes no record of such weeping.
Many -- many a person has awakened in the morning so wretched -- so wretched from a night’s sin-filled binge -- that he/she has sobbed & wept.
Pains in the head -- aching in the eyes -- sick at heart -- he/she grieves not because of what they did -- but because of its consequences.
They are not sorry for their misdoings -- their misdeeds; -- they are sorry only for the consequences!
God makes no record of such weeping.
But my friends -- when we are truly sorry for our sins; -- when we are grieved over a sin-filled wasted life; -- when we are genuinely sorry for our past; -- when we bemoan our rejection of God’s mercy -- & we truly desire by the grace of God to do better -- then God listens; -- then Heaven bows down; -- then our crying opens the heart of heavenly compassion; -- then the joys of pardon & forgiveness are extended from the throne of God -- & then our tears of genuine repentance are caught in God’s bottle.
God keeps the tears of genuine & sincere repentance!
The Bible declares -- “A broken & a contrite heart, God will not despise.”
True confession of sin is not just with the lips; -- God knows our hearts!
When our tears include genuine repentance -- they are acceptable to God! -- When we truly repent & seek His forgiveness -- God listens; -- forgiveness is ours -- & our tears of genuine repentance are caught in God’s bottle.
A perfect example is seen in the life of Peter.
On the night that Jesus was arrested & falsely accused & tried -- Peter blatantly denied even knowing Jesus.
But when Peter heard the crowing of the rooster -- he remembered Christ’s prediction -- & we are told he “went outside & wept bitterly.”
My friend -- have you ever cried out to God to forgive you? -- were you sincere? -- There are no tears more precious to God than the tears of repentance! -- He has gathered them in His bottle!
The parable is told of an angel -- who was sent from the throne of God to discover what one thing is worthy of being carried back to Heaven.
The angel looks through the gold & the silver mines of earth -- but finds nothing worthy of transporting back to the Celestial City.
It goes drown through the depths of the sea -- where the pearls lie -- but finds nothing worthy of taking back to Heaven.
Searching from pole to pole -- he gathered a handful of sparking diamonds -- but stopped & blushed & returned them to earth.
Just then to his ear came the sound of a sob; -- a sinner was pouring out his heart to God asking for pardon & forgiveness.
As the man prayed -- weeping over his evil ways -- tears of penitence & gratitude started flowing -- but not a drop of those tears reach the ground -- for the angel’s wings catch them -- & with that treasure -- those sacred drops of tears -- the angel speeds back to Heaven.
God sees the angel coming -- & says: -- “Behold, you have found the brightest gem of earth & the brightest jewel of Heaven -- the tears of a sinner’s repentance.”
The angel had found at last the most precious thing on earth & in Heaven!
2. God Keeps the Tears of All Our Sorrows & Anxieties!
How many of you are in perfect health today?
If you were to answer that question -- we would more than likely discover that it would not be even one out of ten; -- I do not exaggerate!
The vast majority of us suffer some sort of ailment; -- some form of disease; -- we have a weak side -- or a weak back; -- we are subject to headaches -- or allergies -- or fainting -- or lungs easily distressed.
Many of you have kept on going through the sheer force of the will.
You think no one understands your distresses.
Perhaps you look strong -- but if the truth were known -- you have more aches & pains than you can describe!
Maybe you are struck with the deep pangs of loneliness!
Friends do not come to see you; -- you feel an indescribable loneliness.
No one seems to care whiter you live or die.
My friend -- God knows! -- God feels your pain; -- God witnesses your suffering; -- He counts your sleepless nights; -- He regards the acuteness of your pain; -- He estimates the hardness of your breathing.
While you pour out the medicine from the pill bottles -- & you count the drops; -- God counts all your falling tears -- & in His bottle -- He gathers all those tears!
God knows the sorrows of your poverty; -- He knows how hard you have struggled in vain to provide for your family; -- He witnesses the nights you have cried yourself to sleep; -- Yes, God knows!
God’s angels of mercy are on the watch.
And this very moment those tears of sorrow are being collected.
Down the back country roads; -- in the alleys of the cities; -- in the shanties & in the mansions across our land, never a tear goes unheeded
The work of training our children is a tremendous task.
People who think it is easy have never tried it!
For many of you -- this is the source of your greatest anxiety.
You earnestly wish for your children to grow up rightly -- but you find it hard work to make them do as you know best.
You check their temperature; -- you correct their behavior; -- you experience their rebellion; -- you worry as to where they are so late in the night; -- you pray for their safety.
In the midnight hour -- your pillow is wet with weeping.
You wonder if anyone understands your agony of heart!
My friend -- God understands your heart! -- He knows how hard you have tried! -- He heard every word of counsel you ever offered your kids.
God has not forgotten your prayers; -- He keeps an eternal record of your anxieties -- & He holds in His hand a bottles that glows & glitters -- filled with the tears you have shed!
The hills & mountains may depart; -- earth may come to a burning end; -- the stars may fall from their sockets; -- time may cease & perish; -- but the tears you have shed will not evaporate -- for they are eternal!
They are being held in God’s tear bottle with your name written on it!
We cry tears of heartbreak, too.
Dreams die in their own peculiar way that dreams have of dying.
Things we hoped for never happen; -- plans we made didn’t turn out; -- promises are made & broken; -- the friend you counted on most wasn’t a friend after all; -- the love you gave was never returned.
Your hearts break open -- the tears flow out; -- but those tears are not lost: -- they are gathered into God’s tear bottle.
3. God Keeps the Tears of Bereavements!
Some of you here today have recently lost a parent -- a spouse -- a child -- a friend -- or a dear & precious loved one.
We cry so many, many tears of grief & loss!
Those we loved are gone from our presence.
For some of us the loss has not yet scarred over -- & we have an open wound.
We walk into a room expecting to see her; -- we pick up the phone anticipating his voice; -- but the silence & the absence only mock our sense of their presence.
We ache with the grief of it all -- & tears stain our faces.
We cry so many, many tears of grief & loss.
Troubles at the store are often left at the store; -- misunderstandings & abuse -- we leave on the street where we found them.
The lawsuit that would swallow our honest & hard earned money -- can be left in the courtroom.
But bereavements are home troubles -- & there is no escape from them
You see that vacant chair; -- your eye catches a glimpse of that picture; -- you cannot flee the presence of the one you have lost in death.
You take a look at their picture & try to call back the kindness that once looked out from those eyes; -- you say to yourself it is a good picture -- but all the while you wish you could reach out & touch them & feel their arms about you; -- or you wish to hear just one word from those lips that a few months ago used to call you by your first name.
Although we have faith that they are kept in the safe-keeping of God’s embrace -- frankly we miss them!
We celebrate our conviction that they are in God’s presence -- but we honestly would prefer to have them in our presence.
Thinking of them -- hearing their names in the deep recesses of our hearts -- we cannot help ourselves -- & quick tears push up into our eyes.
You have done your best to hide your grief.
You smile when you do not feel like it.
But though you may deceive the world -- God knows & He understands!
He looks down upon the empty cradle; -- upon the desolate nursery; -- upon the stricken home; -- upon the broken heart; -- & He says: -- “Cast thy burden on My arm -- & I will sustain you! -- All those tears I have gathered in My bottle!”
Illus: -- How many times have we sung the hymn -- “What a friend we have in Jesus” -- w/o hearing the words -- “all our sins & griefs to bear!”
If anyone earned the right to compose these words -- certainly Joseph Scriven did.
Born in Ireland -- Joseph Scriven intended to follow in his father’s footsteps as a career naval officer.
Poor health, however, made that dream impossible.
Joseph migrated to England & fell in love.
Tragically, his bride-to-be drowned the night before they were to be married.
To escape this loss -- Joseph Scriven went to Canada -- where he eventually fell in love with Eliza Roche.
But she died suddenly in 1855 -- before they could marry!
Out of his profound grief -- Scriven wrote the poem that someone else later set to music.
One day Joseph was ill -- & a friend dropped by to look in on him.
The friend happened to notice the hand-written poem on the table.
As he read the words about divine friendship -- the friend asked, “Did you write this?” -- Joseph replied: -- “Yes, the Lord & I did it between us.”
The popularity of his lyrics has brought comfort to so many people across the years!
There are times when you may feel that no one understands your grief.
The truth of the matter is -- they can’t understand your particular grief.
Joseph Scriven’s words speak to that feeling: --
Can we find a friend so faithful?
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness;
Take it -- (take what? -- your grief); -- Take it to the Lord in prayer.
The Lord alone truly understands the depth of your bereavement.
Those tears of bereavement are precious in His sight -- & He has gathered them up & placed them in His bottle!
Conclusion: -- So many tears; -- so many kinds of tears!
Truly -- the tenderness of God is beautifully stated in this text!
Our sleepless nights are known -- & by Him are our tears are preserved!
George Sweeting -- Chancellor of Moody Bible Institute -- wrote a poem I’d like to share -- if I can: --
Tears are shed for wayward children,
Tears for loved ones gone before.
But we have the hope & promise,
When we reach that Heavenly Shore
No tears tomorrow, no tears tomorrow.
O what glory that will be,
When the Savior’s face I see.
No tears tomorrow, no tears tomorrow.
God shall wipe them all away,
No tears tomorrow.
John -- in the book of Revelation -- gives us a glimpse of that day.
“God shall wipe every tear from their eyes. -- There will be no more death -- or sorrow -- or crying -- or pain” (Rev.21:4).
God knows the value of our tears.
He knows the price of our tears in our human life experiences.
And therefore -- God is uniquely qualified to offer comfort -- & with the gentlest of hands -- to wipe away those precious tears!
But you may ask -- why has God been keeping all those tears -- those heart-wrenching tears -- of our time here on earth in His tear bottle?
In that great tear bottle -- or vase -- why -- why does God preserve all our troubles? -- What is the purpose of it all?
I do not have a clear answer to that question; -- I only know that God cares about our tears! -- I can only speculate as to what may be!
In Luke’s Gospel -- chapter 7 -- we read about a certain sinful woman -- (it is thought to have been Mary Magdalene) -- who when she heard that Jesus was at the home of a Pharisee -- came & brought an alabaster jar -- filled with expensive perfume.
Then she knelt at His feet -- weeping! -- Her tears fell on His feet -- & she wiped them off with her hair.
She then kissed His feet -- & put her precious perfume upon them.
Someday -- perhaps each one of us will able to take our own precious tear bottle -- which has been preserved by God as an expression of His tender love & care -- & we will be able to do what this sinful woman of Luke. 7 did; -- empty our tears upon the feet of Jesus.
From the Garden of Eden until now -- many tears have been shed.
But those tears that are shed by God’s children -- are most precious to the Lord.
The tears of repentance -- the tears of our sorrows & anxieties -- the tears of bereavement!
These are sanctified tears -- & those tears may well someday be changed into precious gems & pearls -- & set into the crown -- & upon the robes of the ransomed! -- the saved -- the redeemed!
Cheer up -- dear Christian -- your consecrated tears may someday shine as jewels!
Illus: -- I had in my church back in Illinois -- a precious dear saint by the name of Jim Carey; -- what a dear man of God he was.
One evening in church -- we did for him a special service honoring him -- in the form of This is Your Life.
He was totally surprised as we brought him up front & sat him in a special chair on the platform -- & he was dumb-founded as we honored him in various ways.
When we had completed everything -- we asked him if he would like to say anything before we closed the program.
I will never forget -- with tears running down his cheeks -- humbled by all that we had done for him -- & said about him that evening --Jim stood to his feet & said: -- “When I get to Heaven, the first thing I want to do is to take the crown of life given to me -- & kneeling before my Lord -- I am going to lay my crown at the feet of Jesus -- my Savior, my Lord, my all! -- All I am or ever hope to be -- I owe to Jesus my precious Lord! -- He is my everything!”
Whither we use those tears to wash the feet of Jesus; -- or whither we wear them as precious gems in our crown; -- we owe it all to Jesus!
So precious is Jesus, -- my Savior, my King;
His praise all the day long with rapture I sing.
To Him in my weakness for strength I can cling,
For He is so precious to me.