TEARS IN A BOTTLE
OBSERVATION: THE PSALMIST DAVID REFLECTS THE STRESS HE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE PHILISTINES CAPTURED HIM IN GATH. PLACING TEARS IN A JAR WAS COMMON AMONG THE ANCIENT ROMANS AND JEWS. IT CONVEYED SEVERAL REALITIES OF LIFE EXPERIENCES.
INTERPRETATION: PSALMS 56:8 (NKJV) YOU NUMBER MY WANDERINGS; PUT MY TEARS INTO YOUR BOTTLE; ARE THEY NOT IN YOUR BOOK? PSALMS 56:8 (THE BOOK) YOU KEEP TRACK OF ALL MY SORROWS. YOU HAVE COLLECTED ALL MY TEARS IN YOUR BOTTLE. YOU HAVE RECORDED EACH ONE IN YOUR BOOK.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER:
DAVID COULD BE A MODEL OF WHAT NOT TO DO: MUCH OF HIS LIFE SPOKE TO TURMOIL AND WONDERING. IT IS NO WONDER HE WANTED HIS MEMORIES PLACED INTO A BOTTLE.
THERE ARE TEARS OF REPENTANCE, TEARS IN SPIRITUAL CONFLICTS OF LIFE, TEARS OVER THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN.
DAVID DID NOT DISCREDIT GOD FOR HIS PAIN. HE KNEW THAT VENGEANCE BELONGED TO THE LORD.
DEUTERONOMY 32: 35 (NKJV) VENGEANCE IS MINE, AND RECOMPENSE; THEIR FOOT SHALL SLIP IN DUE TIME: FOR THE DAY OF THEIR CALAMITY IS AT HAND AND THE THINGS TO COME HASTEN UPON THEM. DEUTERONOMY 32: 35 (THE BOOK) I WILL TAKE VENGEANCE; I WILL REPAY THOSE WHO DESERVE IT. IN DUE TIME THEIR FEET WILL SLIP. THEIR DAY OF DISASTER WILL ARRIVE AND THEIR DESTINY WILL OVERTAKE THEM.
HEBREWS 10: 30 (NKJV) FOR WE KNOW HIM WHO SAID, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, AND AGAIN, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE. THE BOOK (PARAPHRASE) FOR WE KNOW THE ONE WHO SAID, I WILL TAKE VENGEANCE. I WILL REPAY THOSE WHO DESERVE IT. HE ALSO SAID THE LORD WOULD JUDGE HIS OWN PEOPLE.
EVIL MEN BELIEVE THEY ARE ENDOWED WITH POWER AND PROSPERITY. GOD WILL ULTIMATELY DISPROVE THEM WRONG. JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!
APPLICATION:
DAVID WAS CONFIDENT THAT GOD HAD A KEEN INTEREST IN HIS PAIN EVEN HIS TEARS. HE KNEW THE GREAT REALITY THAT GOD WAS FOR HIM EVEN IN HIS DISTRESS. HE HAS THE SAME EMPATHY FOR EVERY TRUE BELIEVER!
