27. —The Tears Of God’s Children.
This, with the companion subject forms a most interesting close to the labors of the Bible Students’ Class. A notice elsewhere intimates that the subject announced, on the cover of the magazine for last month will close the series. We cannot but regret that these researches have terminated, at the same time we feel sure that there is a twofold cause for thankfulness. In the first place we are quite sure that there is not one single member of the class that has persevered during the two and a half years of its existence but can bless God for the refreshment and instruction they themselves have received in laboring for others, while on the other hand the result of their labors has afforded from month to month entirely new material for study and reflection. We trust that we may see a selection (at any rate) of these studies reproduced in a permanent form for Bible Students, for we feel sure it will be useful. And now for a few words about the tears of God’s children.
We may divide them as follows. —
1. Weeping in temporal trials.
Hagar—Children of Israel— David—Job. These tears God does not despise, and no doubt there are many readers of these pages who know what it is to have passed through sore trial in temporal things, and yet let us observe the “end of the Lord,” in all the cases recorded here. Hagar’s tears were dried; the children of Israel succored. David got the throne, and Job more than his former prosperity. Moreover, each was taught in the trial some deep and profitable lesson. Let these sorrows then only drive us closer to the source of all our strength, the One who alone can wipe away all tears from our eyes.
2. Weeping at the tomb.
Abraham, Joseph, David, Mary, Poor widows. These tears too are rightly shed; when death lays our beloved one low, we sorrow, but not “as those who have no hope.” Our tears after all when shed at a believer’s grave, are sweetened with that blessed thought. “Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”
3. Weeping at separation from relations and friends.
Jacob—Ruth—David—The disciples—The elders at Ephesus—The saints at Caesarea—Mary Magdalene. These tears too, often the fruit of the new link of love and affection found in Christ, are right and in season now: they will soon be past forever.
4. Weeping in self-will.
Israel. Such tears may fall from a Christian’s eyes, but are in no way right; they merely testify to the bitterness of having our own will broken.
5. Weeping under God’s judgment.
Israel—David—Hezekiah. These tears are permitted in God’s word for “no chastening for the present seemeth joyous but grievous.” Nevertheless, if “exercised thereby” afterward it works the peaceable fruits of righteousness.
6. Weeping in sympathy with others.
Elisha— Isaiah—The ancient men — Ezra — Nehemiah — Mordecai—Jeremiah—The daughters of Jerusalem—The Lord Jesus Christ—Paul—John. Such tears are among the choicest fruits of God’s Spirit. How remarkable it is that these are the only tears Is e find God’s pattern man, the apostle Paul, ever shedding in spite of all his varied persecutions and trials, and of them we have three instances. God’s interests were so entirely and absolutely his, that it was only when they were attacked that he wept.
7. Weeping in sincere repentance.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem—Peter. These too are right tears, and are the fruit of God’s Spirit. They bear witness to the end of the course of self-will, to the restoring grace of God, to the bitterness of walking in our own ways.
It is interesting to notice, in conclusion, that seven instances are given of David weeping. No doubt many other interesting and instructive points remain for others to search out. Still we have seen enough to teach’ us that it is not the tear, but the source from whence it flows, that gives its preciousness in God’s sight.