The subject worked out for this month is— The Tears of God’s Children.
We have already had in a previous number a list of those, of whom it was judged that there was satisfactory proof in Scripture that they were “children of God,” and this list we have used to decide whether those whose tears have been mentioned by the Class were really God’s children.
DIVISION 1. —Weeping, in the Old Testament.
Genesis 21:16. Hagar, in distress at the impending death of her son: her eyes are directed to a well of water to quench his thirst.
Genesis 23:2. Abraham, for the death of Sarah.
Genesis 37:35 Jacob, on account of the supposed death of Joseph
Genesis 50:1. Joseph for the death of his father Jacob.
Numbers 11:4. The children of Israel in complaint against God, as they thought of the fleshpots in Egypt: for their murmurings God sent a plague.
Numbers 25:6. The children of Israel, because of the judgment which fell on them at Baalpeor.
Deuteronomy 34:8. The children of Israel at the death of Moses.
Judges 2:4. The children of Israel at the rebuke of the angel of the Lord at Bochim.
Judges. The children of Israel on many occasions when they had fallen into the hands of oppressors: on their cry they were delivered. See Chapter 3:9, &c.
Ruth 1:9,14. Ruth at the prospect of parting from Naomi.
1 Samuel 1: 7. Hannah, because she had no child: Samuel was given to her.
1 Samuel 20:41. David and Jonathan, because of the persecutions of Saul.
1 Samuel 30:4 David, when he found Ziklag destroyed by the Amalekites.
2 Samuel 1:12 David, because of the death of Saul and Jonathan.
2 Samuel 12:21. David, because of the sickness of his son.
2 Samuel 13:36. David, on account of the death of Amnon.
2 Samuel 15:30. David as he left Jerusalem in consequence of Absalom’s rebellion.
2 Samuel 18:30. David, on account of the death of Absalom.
2 Kings 8:11. Elisha, as he thought of the evil Hazael would do to the children of Israel.
2 Kings. 20:3. Hezekiah, when his death was announced to him by Isaiah: his life was prolonged 15 years. Isaiah 38:3.
2 Kings 22:19. Josiah for the sin of Judah, when he heard the law read.
Ezra 3:12 The “ancient men” who had seen the first temple, at the laying of the foundation of the second.
Ezra 10:1. Ezra, in confession of the sins of the people.
Nehemiah 1:4. Nehemiah, as he thought of the desolate state of Jerusalem: he received a commission from Artaxerxes to build the city.
Esther 4:1. Mordecai when he heard of the decree for the destruction of the Jews.
Job 16.6. Job, in his distress.
Lamentations 1:16. Jeremiah, for the sorrows of Jerusalem. Chapter 2:11, 3:48, 49.
Zechariah 12:10-14. The inhabitants of Jerusalem in the future will weep on account of their treatment of Christ.
Exhortations to Weep.
Isaiah 22:12. In that day did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping.
Jeremiah 22:10. Weep sore for him that goeth away (into captivity).
Joel 2:12, 17. Turn ye to me...with weeping... Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar.
Promises as regards Weeping.
Isaiah 25:8. The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.
Isaiah 30:19. Thou shalt weep no more. (To Zion).
Isaiah 65:19. The voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her (Jerusalem).
Weeping in the New Testament.
Matthew 26:75 Peter, when the Lord looked on him after his denial (Mark 14:72; Luke 22:62): he was restored to communion, John 21:15-17.
Mark 16:10. The disciples on account of the absence of the Lord.
Luke 7:38. The woman in Simon’s house.
Luke 23:27. The women who accompanied the Lord to the cross.
John 11:33. Mary on account of the death of Lazarus.
Luke 19:41. “And when he was come near, he beheld the city and wept over it,”
John 11:35. JESUS wept.
John 20:11, 13. Mary Magdalene, because the body of the Lord had been removed from the sepulcher.
Acts 9:39. Widows, because of the death of their benefactress, Tabitha.
Acts 20:19. Paul in his service of the saints; 2 Corinthians 2:4, in his writing to rebuke the Corinthians: Philippians 3:18, in writing to the Philippians of the evil ways of some “enemies of the cross of Christ.”
Acts 20:37. The elders of the church in Ephesus, when Paul took leave of them.
Acts 21:13. The saints at Caesarea when they heard what would befall Paul at Jerusalem.
2 Timothy 1:4. Timothy.
Revelation 5:4. John, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book.
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” Hebrews 5:7.
DIVISION 2 —What the New Testament says about Weeping.
Tears of sympathy. —Weep with them that weep, Romans 12:15.
Tears accompany the Christian’s portion now —but not hereafter.
Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh, Luke 6:21.
Ye shall weep and lament...ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy, John 16:20.
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, Revelation 7:17.
There shall be no more...crying, Revelation 21:4.
The time is short, and those who weep should be as though they wept not. 1 Corinthians 7:30.
Tears the portion of the wicked hereafter —There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, Matthew 8:12, &c.
Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep, Luke 6:25.
The rich in ill-gotten gains called to weep for the sorrows that shall overtake them. James 5:1.
The tears of the great ones of the earth at the destruction of Babylon, Revelation 18