This Month's Subject: The Tears of God's Children

From: Bible Student: Volume 3, 1883

• 5 min. read • grade level: 8

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 21:16¹⁶And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. (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 23:2²And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. (Genesis 23:2). Abraham, for the death of Sarah.

Genesis 37:35³⁵And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:35) Jacob, on account of the supposed death of Joseph

Genesis 50:1¹And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. (Genesis 50:1). Joseph for the death of his father Jacob.

Numbers 11:4⁴And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? (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 25:6⁶And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 25:6). The children of Israel, because of the judgment which fell on them at Baalpeor.

Deuteronomy 34:8⁸And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. (Deuteronomy 34:8). The children of Israel at the death of Moses.

Judges 2:4⁴And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. (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 1:9,14⁹The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. (Ruth 1:9)
¹⁴And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. (Ruth 1:14). 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 20:41⁴¹And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. (1 Samuel 20:41). David and Jonathan, because of the persecutions of Saul.

1 Samuel 30:4⁴Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. (1 Samuel 30:4) David, when he found Ziklag destroyed by the Amalekites.

2 Samuel 1:12¹²And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. (2 Samuel 1:12) David, because of the death of Saul and Jonathan.

2 Samuel 12:21²¹Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. (2 Samuel 12:21). David, because of the sickness of his son.

2 Samuel 13:36³⁶And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore. (2 Samuel 13:36). David, on account of the death of Amnon.

2 Samuel 15:30³⁰And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. (2 Samuel 15:30). David as he left Jerusalem in consequence of Absalom’s rebellion.

2 Samuel 18:30³⁰And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. (2 Samuel 18:30). David, on account of the death of Absalom.

2 Kings 8:11¹¹And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. (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 38:3³And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. (Isaiah 38:3).

2 Kings 22:19¹⁹Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. (2 Kings 22:19). Josiah for the sin of Judah, when he heard the law read.