Weeping for Joy
Today’s Verse:
But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: ~Ezra 3:12
When we think of our physical, spiritual, and emotional makeup, we can echo what the psalmist said that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The trichotomy of man—spirit, soul, and body—are so intricately tied together. One of the key emotions that we are made with is our ability to cry and shed tears. Tears reflect the tender working of our emotions and spirit within us. They are an external demonstration that we have been touched at a point where we are most tender. Tears can be shed for gladness. Tears, most often, are shed in sadness. Tears are a means by which to show that our life has been touched.
We see tears for the sanctuary.
The Jews had returned to Jerusalem after more than seventy years of absence. The older men who remembered the first temple, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians, saw the foundation for a new work of God being laid. We are told that they wept with a loud voice when this foundation was laid. They wept that the house of God was in the process of being built again. They remembered the former glory. They would see it again! I think that in the hearts of these men, they were thinking, “We don’t want to mess up like we did seventy years ago. We want to enjoy and celebrate every moment that we can in God’s house!” Like these older men, we need tears for the sanctuary of God. We need to weep with rejoicing every time we meet in God’s house! We should treat each gathering in the house of God as if it was our last. We should assemble with the desire that we want God to work mightily in our midst!
We see tears for our sins.
In Psalm 51, we have the great confession of David concerning terrible sins that he had committed. Our tears over our sins demonstrate that our conscience has been touched. Tears should flow as we confess our sins. Our heart should be broken that we have sinned against God and broken fellowship with Him. Then, we should have tears as we are being cleansed. The cleansing of our sins is only by the mercies of God. God is forgiving and restorative. He wants us to have a life that is holy, healed, and happy. Psalm 34:18 tells us that the Lord is nigh unto them who have a broken heart. Tears of penitence reflect that we have remorse over our sin and have repented for our wrongdoing. However, tears of penitence are replaced by tears of rejoicing that God has forgiven us and given us a new and fresh start.
We see tears for the souls of men.
The psalmist said, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Tears for the souls of men reflect a spirit of great compassion within us for souls that are perishing and headed to Hell. We are burdened for their sinful condition and long for their salvation. These tears for sinners soon become tears of rejoicing when sinful men repent of their sins and call upon the Lord to save them. We are told that “he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” We have tears of joy for every soul who calls upon the Lord for salvation. These tears remind us of the priority of reaching souls with the gospel. Let us have tears of joy when souls are saved.
Tears of joy keep our heart fertile and soft. God does His best cultivation in hearts that have been saturated with the water of our tears. Keep your heart tender and your tear ducts from clogging up!
Have a tender God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 1-3