“Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” (v.136)
When was the last time you cried over the state of our nation? How about the last time you wept for lost souls? “Rivers of waters” ought to run down our eyes for these things, because they keep not God’s law. If we would desire to be like Christ, we must be “weepers”; not cry-babies who whine about everything, but men and women who are not afraid to show emotion. We so often seek to live so much by principle, that we forget to feel emotion. When we live, and guide our lives only by principle, we become heartless machines, and not loving servants; on the other hand, we cannot live solely by emotion, lest we have no “substance” I have said it before, and no doubt will say it again, but I would rather see a compassionate man than a faithful man, as far as the church is concerned. We all know people who are very faithful to every service, but have no heart for souls, or even for their brethren! It takes a certain kind of character to be faithful, but it takes a work of God in our hearts to be compassionate. Please don’t get me wrong, we ought to be faithful to the work of the Lord, but not to leave the other undone either! I can almost see the tears as Jesus looked over Jerusalem and exclaimed, (Mat 23:37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Can you not see the compassion, and hear the voice of frustration as Jesus spoke these words? Then there is that famous verse that children like to memorize, “Jesus wept”. It is amazing that the King of Glory wept openly, and unashamedly over the death of Lazarus, one of His own sheep.
Perhaps this one great attribute is what made David the man that he was. He cried because God’s law was spurned, and rejected, not only for the lost man who rejected it. We would do well to love the Word of God to that extent. Too often our attitude is, “Well, if they don’t listen, let them perish in hell then!” We ought to weep that the Word of God seemed as though it was nothing to them.
Showing posts with label tears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tears. Show all posts
Spurgeon Devotion
“And when he thought thereon, he wept.”
- Mar_14:72
It has been thought by some that as long as Peter lived, the fountain of his tears began to flow whenever he remembered his denying his Lord. It is not unlikely that it was so, (for his sin was very great, and grace in him had afterwards a perfect work. This same experience is common to all the redeemed family according to the degree in which the Spirit of God has removed the natural heart of stone. We, like Peter, remember our boastful promise: “Though all men shall forsake thee, yet will not I.” We eat our own words with the bitter herbs of repentance. When we think of what we vowed we would be, and of what we have been, we may weep whole showers of grief. He thought on his denying his Lord. The place in which he did it, the little cause which led him into such heinous sin, the oaths and blasphemies with which he sought to confirm his falsehood, and the dreadful hardness of heart which drove him to do so again and yet again. Can we, when we are reminded of our sins, and their exceeding sinfulness, remain stolid and stubborn? Will we not make our house a Bochim, and cry unto the Lord for renewed assurances of pardoning love? May we never take a dry-eyed look at sin, lest ere long we have a tongue parched in the flames of hell. Peter also thought upon his Master’s look of love. The Lord followed up the cock’s warning voice with an admonitory look of sorrow, pity, and love. That glance was never out of Peter’s mind so long as he lived. It was far more effectual than ten thousand sermons would have been without the Spirit. The penitent apostle would be sure to weep when he recollected the Saviour’s full forgiveness, which restored him to his former place. To think that we have offended so kind and good a Lord is more than sufficient reason for being constant weepers. Lord, smite our rocky hearts, and make the waters flow.
- Mar_14:72
It has been thought by some that as long as Peter lived, the fountain of his tears began to flow whenever he remembered his denying his Lord. It is not unlikely that it was so, (for his sin was very great, and grace in him had afterwards a perfect work. This same experience is common to all the redeemed family according to the degree in which the Spirit of God has removed the natural heart of stone. We, like Peter, remember our boastful promise: “Though all men shall forsake thee, yet will not I.” We eat our own words with the bitter herbs of repentance. When we think of what we vowed we would be, and of what we have been, we may weep whole showers of grief. He thought on his denying his Lord. The place in which he did it, the little cause which led him into such heinous sin, the oaths and blasphemies with which he sought to confirm his falsehood, and the dreadful hardness of heart which drove him to do so again and yet again. Can we, when we are reminded of our sins, and their exceeding sinfulness, remain stolid and stubborn? Will we not make our house a Bochim, and cry unto the Lord for renewed assurances of pardoning love? May we never take a dry-eyed look at sin, lest ere long we have a tongue parched in the flames of hell. Peter also thought upon his Master’s look of love. The Lord followed up the cock’s warning voice with an admonitory look of sorrow, pity, and love. That glance was never out of Peter’s mind so long as he lived. It was far more effectual than ten thousand sermons would have been without the Spirit. The penitent apostle would be sure to weep when he recollected the Saviour’s full forgiveness, which restored him to his former place. To think that we have offended so kind and good a Lord is more than sufficient reason for being constant weepers. Lord, smite our rocky hearts, and make the waters flow.
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