Saturday 14 June 2008

WEEPING ENDURES FOR A NIGHT

“So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.” (2Samuel 15:30)

Although people can weep for joy, most times weeping is a sign of serious distress, pain, unhappiness, helplessness, loneliness, failure, defeat, disappointment and hopelessness. It is extremely rare to find someone who loves God and knows about His care and goodness, who has never wept. Even Jesus wept!

When you read the Bible you will find several examples of godly people, righteous people, many people with real faith and assurance of God’s unfailing goodness weeping because of their great sadness on particular occasions.

David was a king and a very precious man of God. He had his failings but God gave a testimony concerning David: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” (Acts 13:22b) If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, God has the same testimony concerning us. However, as you can see, despite his successes and many amazing answers to his prayers, David still had many moments of sorrow and unhappiness.

On the outside, people can look as if they have got everything sewn up and nothing is missing. However, actually, all of us as children of God will experience various situations that will make us weep because they make us sad. It is important for us to know that weeping is part of our relationship with God. In fact, it is unavoidable, no matter how close we are to God!

However, when we do weep let us also remember that God has not forgotten us and, in fact, He is closest to us when we are most unhappy! Such was the situation David faced as he fled from his son, Absalom that the Bible recorded that “David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.”

Obviously, as he was going through this painful experience, he was praying his heart out to God. In the battle that followed, God gave him victory. Why? David tells us in Psalm 6:8 - “The LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.” In another Psalm, David noted that “God’s anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

In another Psalm, David prophesied, saying: “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:6)

When we are sorrowful and distressed it obviously has a great impact on the tender lovingkindness of God. Because He is Immanuel (which means “God with us”), when God allows us to experience pain and disappointment, He is not far away from us: He is actually there with us! He is Jehovah-Shammah (“The LORD is there!”) If we understand this we will use our pain and sorrow as a very strong reason to seek the face of God.

No wonder, the LORD spoke to Jeremiah, the prophet: “My people shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble…” (Jeremiah 31:9

At another time, the LORD told Jeremiah: “Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded…” (Jeremiah 31:16) Which means you have wept enough over this matter, now brighten up, wash yourself, put on your pomade and powder, your perfume and nice clothes, start enjoying your life again. God is still on the throne. He has heard your voice. Your night season concerning this matter is over. This is your morning, and your joy is here! Amen.

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