Put Thou My Tears Into Thy Bottle

Psalms 56:8 (KJV) Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

This scripture shows us the tender heart of our heavenly Father.

He has a tear bottle

—in fact, perhaps a tear bottle for each of His wandering children.

Ancient “tear bottles” have actually been excavated by archaeologists in Israel.

These vessels were used to catch and preserve the owner’s tears during times of grief or extreme pressure.

Tear bottles, called lachrymatories (Lac-ri-ma-tor-ies),

were used also for collecting the tears of mourners.

These bottles were then placed in the tombs of the deceased.

(Tears Kill Microbes)

Sir Alexander Fleming, the English scientist, has proved that human tears are efficient microbe-killers. One teaspoonful of tears would give enough antiseptic power to purify one hundred gallons of water. Many a distinguished physician has said it is his opinion that all of us should cry occasionally for our health’s sake.

This psalm was written by David when he was being pursued by Saul

and surrounded by Philistines in the city of Goliath.

David apparently not only had his own tear bottle,

but also believed that God somehow was also storing up David’s personal tears in His own heavenly bottle of tears.

This more than anything this shows us the deep and meticulous way God sees us.

The fact that God keeps a book ,

recording even the smallest details of a tear that I shed,

Absolutely encourages me to know that God

sees me,

hears me,

knows me,

loves me,

He is personal and empathetic toward me

There is a touching story in the earthly ministry of Jesus that provides another example:

Luke 7:36-38 (KJV) And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Luke 7:44 (KJV) And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

Some scholars think these tears came from her bottle, which was emptied on His feet and used to wash them.

In any case, God does know all our wanderings and sorrows and all our tears,

and stores them up somewhere.

Perhaps this is the book of Remembrance Recorded in Malachi.

Malachi 3:16 (KJV) Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

If you notice, this book of Remembrance is written before God to them that feared the Lord and thought on his name.

God remembers and understands your Reverence toward him

God remembers every thought you think on him.

God treasures those thoughts

God treasures the fact that you fear him, you reverence Him.

Christians reverence God by our willingness to voluntarily die to self and obey His commands

Galatians 2:20 (KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Jesus reminded us that we must properly reverence God.

He taught the disciples to begin their prayers with “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9–13).

Hallowed means “set apart as holy.” We are to treat the name of God with reverence.

Another way we demonstrate reverence for God is by the way we live.

We pursue holiness because He is holy

1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Reverent people desire “to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age”

Titus 2:12 (KJV) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

We show reverence for God by learning how to truly worship Him.

Jesus said that the Father is seeking people who will learn to worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).