“Store my tears in your leather bag” (Ps 56:9b – The 2020 translation).
These words from Psalm 56:9 remind us that tears shed are never wasted. Someone takes notice. They do not go unnoticed. The 1983 translation states: “You have kept a record of my tears” (v9b). The NLT version (verse 8b) reads: “You have collected all my tears in your bottle.” The Message translation puts it this way: “You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights; each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book” (v8).
David’s song is set to the tune “The Dove on Distant Oaks” (v1)—a tune that likely carries a sorrowful tone. We seldom think of God as the grieving God, the One who feels heartache with us and for us. Yet, we also read of Jesus being deeply moved with sorrow, as when He learned of Lazarus’ death and met Mary at her friend’s house: “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (John 11:33).
David’s poem addresses the causes of his tears, and surely each of us could write our own story of tears in a similar way. But can we also walk in David’s footsteps and confess with him: “With God by my side, I was able to keep going and see the light of life” (v14b)? Even if the journey is marked by tears rolling down our cheeks.
May the mournful songs of the dove never sound the same to you again. May they remind you of the promise that there will come a time when “there will be no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” and God Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev 21:4).
PRAYER: Comforting God, thank You for knowing my tears and holding me close to You.
MUSIC:
We listen to the Celtic rendition of Psalm 56, “The Light of Life”, performed by Deirdre Nicole Neely and Tabitha Fair.