Last week, as we began this new journey,
we considered times when God fills our life
with such joy, that we feel like we are “dreaming.”
In Psalm 126, the Israelites are looking back to those times, to that “reservoir” of remembrance,
for now they are in the desert of suffering.
This is a psalm we’ve studied before, and some of this will be review, but oh, a review we constantly need, for this life is full of trouble.
We constantly need to remember, as the hymn we will hear this week says, “earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”
One day,
“he who goes out weeping, bearing seed for sowing,
will return with shouts of joy, bringing sheaves with him.”
Notice it doesn’t just say “he who goes out weeping,” but rather,
“he who goes out weeping, bearing seed for sowing...”
What is this seed for sowing?
In one of my top favorite Keller sermon’s this week,
he explains how we must learn to “pray our tears.”
We must not stuff our tears or vent our tears but sow our tears.
He will explain, but we have a living testimony of this right within our blog fellowship.
I met our dear Chris on this blog,
shortly after her wonderful son Daniel had been murdered.
I have watched her process her sorrow and pray her tears.
Chris went out weeping, bearing seed for sowing.
And God has done, a continues to do, a work in her.
I’ve watched this so many times, but I see something new each time,
so even if you have watched before, watch this short clip:
This week is also the week my husband went to be with the Lord. I have thought so often of how, near the end, he asked me to pray prayers I didn’t want to pray, because I was still holding onto hope for healing. He asked me to pray that he would die a “good death,” that no matter how bad it got, he would glorify God to the end. He asked that I would pray God would be a father to the fatherless. He asked to pray that we would not back up from God.
I didn’t want to pray those prayers, but I did, in honor of my husband. And I’m so glad I did — for we have seen the fruit of those prayers. Those were prayers of sacrifice that yielded an amazing crop, including, a death the glorified God and brought many to Him, godly father-in-laws to be fathers to our daughters, and, as a surprising bonus, six years later, four baby girls, who have indeed, filled our mouths with laughter. Sally was the first, who after years of infertility, conceived, and found out on the 5th anniversary of Steve’s death. (This is too much to be coincidence.) God had mercy, and indeed, no one backed up from Him, but pressed in.
Likewise, I have seen so many of you “sow your tears,” refusing to back up from God in your time of suffering, and I see beautiful women of God here.
In commenting on Psalm 126, particularly the line that says “He who goes out weeping, bearing seed for sowing,” Dr. Ellen F Davis, Professor of Bible at Yale Divinity School, said:
I didn’t really understand for many years why someone would go out weeping to sow the seed in their field until I began working with the African Christians who have to make a choice between eating the grain now and giving it to their hungry children or planting it in the field so there will be something to eat next year.
We will ponder what this means.
Sunday
1. What stands out to you and why?
2. Keep building up your reservoir — what was life-giving to you this last week and why? (You did wonderfully last week — would love you to keep up with your gratitude.)
Monday-Wednesday Bible Study
Prepare your heart with this:
3. In the Keller sermon this week, before he turns his attention to Psalm 126, he quotes Psalm 39:12-13. What does this say? Describe the honesty of the psalmist in his lament.
4. What does it mean to you, as Derek Kidner said, that “God knows how men speak when they are desperate?”
5. Why does God know what it feels like to be desperate?
6. Keller says we must not stuff our tears (like the religious) or vent our tears (like the world) but sow our tears. Let us ponder:
A. God doesn’t want us to stuff our tears because He hates dishonesty — it keeps us from having a real relationship with Him. Give an example from either the gospels or Acts that shows how God either hates dishonesty or loves honesty.
B. God doesn’t want us just venting our tears, running around complaining. Paul Tripp says that complaining is self-centered and praise is God centered. Here’s a challenge (and this is going to be a CHALLENGE): Put a guard over your heart against complaining today. Report back tonight.
C. God wants us to “sow” our tears. Reflect on the Ellen Davis quote, on the testimonies you’ve heard, and the psalms of lament and explain what this means.
7. Read Psalm 126
The Israelites are in a time of great sorrow (we don’t know what, but it doesn’t seem to be as a result of sin), but they do a number of things to “sow their tears.” Find them in the follow verses:
1) Psalm 126:1-3
2) Psalm 126:4
3) Psalm 126:5-6
8. If you are going through deep sorrow right now, follow the pattern of the lament:
A. Tell God the truth about how you feel
B. Be still and know that He is God, looking to the cross.
C. Resolve, if you can, to trust Him.
Thursday-Friday Sermon
9. Share your notes and comments.
Saturday
10. What is your take-a-way and why? (And how did you do with not complaining?)
167 comments
6. Keller says we must not stuff our tears (like the religious) or vent our tears (like the world) but sow our tears. Let us ponder:
A. God doesn’t want us to stuff our tears because He hates dishonesty — it keeps us from having a real relationship with Him. Give an example from either the gospels or Acts that shows how God either hates dishonesty or loves honesty.
The sin of Achan- The anger of the Lord burned against his people..I think in this instance it shows an affinity for idols over God which is at the root of dishonesty and God was upset that they loved those things more than Him. Also Psalm 101:7. Again, God makes it clear he hates dishonesty.
David is a perfect example of how God loves honesty for David sinned against God over and over yet God called him a man after His heart.
Sisters! Both Laura and Rebecca have just asked very good questions. I’d love to hear your responses before I chime in!
I don’t have any profound answers on “sowing our tears” but I’ll share my thoughts. And I haven’t pulled up this week’s sermon yet, so this may be wasted space! When I picture a farmer, sowing seeds–he is careful. He doesn’t waste the seed, the seed may have value–it has a possibility of, potential for, great growth. But he can’t just pour it all out at once. He also can’t hold on to it and expect anything fruitful–just thinking out loud now, but I think the seed would just spoil if he held on to it. So he “sows”–carefully, thoughtfully.
My tears are precious to God. They matter. when I am careful and not rash with my tears–actually I have been in that place lately–and it is good, those tears are fruitful–they produce true joy, but it takes time, thoughtfulness. I am careful where I spread my tears–I have 2 dear prayer partners and yesterday, oh, too much to share here–but I sowed my tears to them, I think, and they nurtured them. They loved on me and then pointed me back to His grace. God wants all of me, He is not what I grew up with–He doesn’t expect or want me to ‘pull it together’. My friend said–‘we’re not like that, GOD’s not like that!’ Diane posted a Joni devotion recently where she prayed to Jesus as the King of Pain. The Cross–He knows. And I know I said this earlier–but God did leave Jesus, so that I can never have the right to say He has left me. I am chosen, He has shown me that–why would He leave me now? He will never leave me. Then as I was reading an article I had avoided, on prayer (sort of)–I tried reading some of it to my husband and just broke–uncontrollably. But it was so good. Oh how He opened my eyes through those tears to a deep doubt I have carried so long. And I had another “kiss” from Him–an email last night from a friend on here, and oh it was from Him–another nudge towards His truth, His arms. So I feel the joy of carefully sowing my tears–and not being afraid of them. I’m sort of a mess, but a good mess–just not able to articulate well, so I’ll stop here as I doubt this is very helpful–but maybe to me 🙂
How I love this “mess!” Good sharing. Great illustration.
And how we need one another to help us sow our tears well.
Lizzy-Oh no!! This IS helpful!!
6. Keller says we must not stuff our tears (like the religious) or vent our tears (like the world) but sow our tears. Let us ponder:
A. God doesn’t want us to stuff our tears because He hates dishonesty — it keeps us from having a real relationship with Him. Give an example from either the gospels or Acts that shows how God either hates dishonesty or loves honesty.
Matthew 15: 8-9 – “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men.:”
Matthew 5: 37 – “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No, ‘ ’No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Luke 11:39 – “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.”
Luke 12: 2,3 – There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
In Acts 5, the story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira tells of a couple who sod a piece of property, and brought what they presented as the full amount to the disciples. However, they did not present the full amount, and kept some for themselves. They were both struck dead for trying to keep this deceptive ruse.
B. God doesn’t want us just venting our tears, running around complaining. Paul Tripp says that complaining is self-centered and praise is God centered. Here’s a challenge (and this is going to be a CHALLENGE): Put a guard over your heart against complaining today. Report back tonight.
Sorry, I am just no good at this – guess complaining runs deep with me. I had my cleaning lady here today, and I felt I had to complain about a couple of things that just weren’t getting done on a regular basis. I tried to do it nicely, but it was still complaining. I also had some physical problems that caused me to complain as well. All in all, I failed! I will try again, however!
Deanna, I fear I am just like you here! I have had to restart three times this week! I think it is good though,to take stock of my character at times, so I don’t think it is “all for naught.” Hang in there sister!
7. Read Psalm 126
The Israelites are in a time of great sorrow (we don’t know what, but it doesn’t seem to be as a result of sin), but they do a number of things to “sow their tears.” Find them in the follow verses:
1) Psalm 126:1-3
The captives who had been carried away into exile were now returning to Zion in great joy and thanksgiving. They were virtually laughing as they went, and singing songs.
2) Psalm 126:4
The returning exiles ae asking that God restore them to where they were originally. They have faith that God can do that.
3) Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in grief and tears will harvest while singing songs of joy. God has the ability to bring good out of tragedy. When one is burdened by sorrow we can know that the times of grief wil end and we will again amazingly find joy. Or even if we are still grieving, our eyes can be opened to see good things happening in the midst of it all.
I think you answer to C might be helpful to Laura and Rebecca too.
So far, I am learning a lot from you all who have responded to my question! I think I get #7 now-maybe? While we sow in grief and tears-honesty before God-we reap a harvest of joy..Well, HE is our joy..and it happens while sowing for He brings good out of tragedy and in my opinion the deepest good that comes out of it is being closer to Him-and He shows up even if we don’t sense Him..I think it is also a time where-and I am horrible with putting this into words-where He is bigger and everything else hurtful and concerning fades-while there is still pain the joy overwhelms and we, like when Paul was imprisoned can sing with praises loud to Him-praising Him…hard to explain! He also brings us closer to others who are sowing with us. Am I close???
Hmmm….Psalm 42:7…Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
I just wanted to add a different perspective to Rebecca’s question about “sowing tears”.
Recently, both a friend and I, who are each leading Bible studies, were sharing how inadequate we felt to lead right now. We have each recently gone through crises that have left us feeling empty and confused. My friend felt the need to approach her group with appropriate confession, seeking to admit her struggle to even DO Bible Study and encouraging her ladies not to give up Bible study when the going gets tough. (It is often through the discipline of Bible Study God meets us.) And sometimes as leaders we lead feeling (sometimes even to the point of tears) completely like we just don’t have it in us to be up front and lead on a particular occasion. Also, we both are deeply feeling the need to pray for each other as we lead, that our leading will be Spirit led and not from ourselves. We have begun phoning each other to pray for the other a few hours before each study. We truly need God’s wisdom, for we just don’t have it on our own. We are taking our failures and stepping out in faith, asking God to use us though we are inadequate. It is a sacrifice of service, offering (sowing) our tears.
We see something similar in Dee when she shares her weaknesses with us. Many times sharing her weaknesses prompts women to respond by sharing their own, often surprised that our seemingly “fearless” leader also is a “sinner”. Leading from our weakness, but pointing to Christ, is very powerful to show others that Christ will not reject any of us in our weaknesses when we cry to Him for help and mercy.
So good about not pretending you have it all together but being open and vulnerable, Diane!
Diane, this is a wonderful example of sowing tears. Your friend really shows her maturity in that as the Bible study leader, she was vulnerable enough to not hide behind a mask of having it all together, to admit her own struggles to continue on with Bible study. “Taking our failures and stepping out in faith, asking God to use us though we are inadequate” – what truth here as indeed, on our own, we are all inadequate to do anything for God! Yet we ask God to use us anyway, “cracked pots” though we are.
Thursday thanksgiving:
Mercy – Gorgeous Fall leaves, sunshine, blue sky
Jesus thought – I dread winter; long hours of darkness, being cold all the time, icy roads, worry about dangers of shoveling (potential heart attack for husband/even me). Yet even though cooler temperatures and Fall colors tell of winter days ahead, it is hard not to be awe-struck by the beautiful colors that God provides as the leaves die, then fall to the ground. It is a little bit of hope that God is in all things, even in the dying leaves and will surely be with us in the winter as well.
Love the leaves myself Diane! That is, until cleanup must occur! I think leaves are actually worse than snow….
Thankful my youngest son is home for an extended weekend break from college! He traveled on a bus all the way from Pittsburgh throughout the night and my daughter is picking him up this morning at the station. Family time for the weekend will be enjoyed (I hope!).
Not it really sure how God fits in to this gratitude, but here are verses from scripture I found that might apply?
“And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.”
Deuteronomy 26:11 ESV
And,
“We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19 ESV
Laura, enjoy the weekend with your son…mine is also home from State College this weekend…it’s bittersweet because I know he’ll be leaving tomorrow and oh I miss him. He also accepted an internship for next summer that will be in Houston. This summer, he worked in Pittsburgh so at least he was able to come home every weekend as we’re only about 2 hours from there. Next summer will be hard!
Susan, so nice to have him here; you mentioned state college? Is he in Pennsylvania right now? My son said the bus was filled when they go to state college. Houston is a crazy big city; 50 square miles and 2 hours to just get across! I would never want to live there but it is fun to visit. Maybe you could take a trip there to see him? I will keep this on my prayer list.
Laura, my son is at Penn State, his senior year. He has his car there so can drive himself home. It’s about 3 1/2 hours from where we live. I do remember seeing the “Happy Valley Bus” on our trips there to visit him! I figured you knew about Houston because you used to live in TX, if I remember right?
I have been pondering the sowing of tears. I thought about the difference between believing like Psalm 56:8
“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”
And wailing like Hosea 7:12
“They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me.”
God wants me to cry to Him, to turn my face even when my tears are confused and angry to Him and let Him change me. He loves me, He is jealous for my heart. He knows what He is doing and how much it hurts. The seed has to die before it can change, it has to die, but there is new life on the other side that won’t come any other way.
Chris, oh…loved this: “He knows what He is doing and how much it hurts. The seed has to die before it can change, it has to die, but there is new life on the other side that won’t come any other way”.. LOVED THIS.
I appreciate your ponderings about sowing tears and the verses, Chris. They remind me of these verses. I picture that this is what it is like after the tears, or perhaps as an interlude between storms of tears.
Psalm 131 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
I don’t know what to think of this since this just happened during our study this week! We have had a scare recently with our oldest son Elijah and are waiting for test results today..could be nothing or could be life changing. I admit I am scared..and God has given me two nights of pressing into Him…and He has comforted me..I struggled at first because if this is nothing I will feel like a fool being so scared-but God wants my foolishness too.. His comfort came as I poured out my fears-my doubts and then I started praising Him..for me when I remember who He is and praise Him His comfort always warms me like a blanket. I don’t know what God has ahead…could be nothing-or could be something..but I trust He is in control..and as much as I don’t want this to be bad..If it is I want to sow my tears..I don’t want to back away!!
I will be praying too Rebecca
Praying too, Rebecca. It’s perfectly normal to be scared. Praying that you lean in to Him and don’t back away. And praying for Elijah and you and your husband, if the news is life-changing, that you and your husband will be as God’s light to Elijah.
Two or three gathering around you, Rebecca.
Rebecca, I too am praying for Elijah! Just curious–how old is he?
Listening to Keller for the second time.
Sowing our tears..The third Gospel!!
So far I am learning we should always have tears..honestly taking them to God and process them, but don’t stop there. .be expecting a growing season to come out of it. .friut producing sowing..
I don’t think it has to be only when something tragic happens, but every day!
So for me these past two weeks in taking my fears/tears to God, he is going to use this to soften my heart and give me a heart of flesh.
What’s new to me from Kellet is when i sense grieving inside over evil in the world, which i do…I should take those tears to Him. Like when my heart grieves over kiddos i work with who have tragic pasts..I need to take those tears to Him and invest them…plant and sow them to God. To see them as an opportunity for fruitfulness and growth.
The return on sowing our tears come Joy..the tears produce joy.
For our slight momentary affliction produces joy.
Praying for you, Rebecca and Elijah.
Praying, Rebecca.
Dee, I am not sure. Is today the day of anniversary of Steve’s death? In any case, you are in my thoughts and prayers today. May God comfort you! As I ponder this morning, I think of the rich inheritance that the Lord has given you through faith and the blessing it is to have had such a godly husband. What blessings, though the loss is bittersweet now and you must long for the time you will go to Steve in heaven and so forever be with the Lord. You are such a blessing here doing this ministry, serving the Lord as Steve longed for you to do.
How dear of you to remember, Diane. Thank you!
Praying too Rebecca
It took me four different sessions to get through Dr. Keller’s sermon, and I ended up with a little more than 13 pages of handwritten notes! I am now trying to figure out how I will ever get that much in shape to share. I’m thinking outline form or something along that line. This may take awhile. I see no one else has braved it yet. Stay tuned!
Looking forward to it, Deanna!
Hello, dear friends! Been following silently here as it has been a very busy last 2 weeks! I will probably be doing this for a while but praying I can at least read everyday. Many activities at school that will require prep time.
Mercies:
1. Got done with my 9 week online class on dementia-so much to learn
Jesus, you are wisdom and knowledge. I pray you will bring together what I have learned so the service that comes out of this will be honoring to you
2. daughter Ruth Ann is keeping in touch with us almost daily this week! Jesus, the lover of our souls and keeper of families-thank you for this special time you are giving me with my daughter though we are far away from each other.
3. coming home to our house everyday this week. There is no place like home where my weary feet and mind can rest. Jesus, wherever I am, I can find rest in you. “Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest.”
God doesn’t want us just venting our tears, running around complaining. Paul Tripp says that complaining is self-centered and praise is God centered. Here’s a challenge (and this is going to be a CHALLENGE): Put a guard over your heart against complaining today. Report back tonight.
This was indeed a challenge and DISCIPLINE. I find, though that just being aware of what Jesus is able to empower me (that is not to complain but rather to praise God) to do is a start. The awareness has helped me either stop or correct my thinking and words. I wasn’t successful 100% but I am grateful for the Spirit’s prompting and convicting. For me just the fact that I was able to stop and think rather than just spout out the complain was a breakthrough.The Lord is good.
Bing–thanking Him with you for you #2 especially–what a hope-filled praise about Ruth Ann!
Rebecca–been praying for Eli, love you~
Sorry, it is still too long! Hope it is helpful to some.
Notes on Dr. Timothy Keller’s sermon on Psalm 39 and Psalm 126:
The Psalms give a gospel third way with your feelings – between what religiosity and what secularity tells you to do with your feelings. Religiosity is uncomfortable with feelings. Secular people see expression of their feelings as an end in itself. To bow to your feelings or to stuff your feelings, to be over-awed by them or under-aware of them is dangerous. The psalmist says to pray your deepest feelings – bring them to God and process them.
If you were to take the 150 psalms and categorize them, one category will always be called lamentations. There are more lamentations than any other kind of psalm. What do we learn here about what to do with our tears. Three things: expect tears, invest tears, and pray your tears.
EXPECT TEARS: Psalm 126 vss 1-3. There are debates about that these verses mean. May refer to the children of Israel returning from the Babylonian exile. We can’t be sure. The point is that God did something for them that was so big that all the other nations saw it. We don’t know what it was. But then in verse 4, “restore our fortunes, O Lord.” “Restore our fortunes like the streams in the Negev (a barren terrible, lifeless desert). We don’t know if they were going through a famine, a literal famine or a literal desert experience, or whether they were going through a plague, or if there was some crushing military defeat.
1. Even if God is in your life and you are walking with God, you should still expect tears.
Christians have a little myth: if I am a good little boy or girl, if I am a good little Christian, God is not going to let anything really bad happen. The Israelites were not repenting – not saying it is because of sin that their lives are like a desert. If anything you might want to realize that the Bible indicates that becoming a person of faith, if anything, may lead you to weep more. The gospel changes your heart – makes it softer, more vulnerable, more touchable. You feel things around you that before you just didn’t. When you saw people who were screwing up their lives, you said, “Well that’s their problem, it’s not mine; but now you know what you have got and you know what they could be.
2. There was one, according to the Bible, a perfect human heart that came into the world and lived here for a number of years, and one thing we know about that perfect human heart – it was always crying. He was a Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief. Jesus was walking pretty well with God. I don’t think you could say nothing bad ever happened to Him. If you don’t expect tears, you will always be crying about two things instead of one – crying about the thing that grieves you and also about the fact that you are grieved.
INVEST YOUR TEARS: In verses 5 & 6 the psalmist says “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. It is true that all farmers go out and so and then come back with songs of joy, but do they go out weeping?
(a) Do not avoid your tears.
(b) Do not just express your tears.
(c)You have to plant your tears – you have to sow your tears.
If you just take your seed and sit on it, you will never have a harvest. But on the other hand, if you take your big bag of seed and go six feet out into the field and just dump it and come home, you are not going to have a harvest either. You can’t stuff your seed and you can’t dump your seed – you have to plant it. Invest your seed/tears. You don’t just dump your money, you invest it. You find a place – you send it out, and if you’ve done it well, it brings in a return. What is the return on our tears – joy! The gospel promises if you plant your tears, the tears produce joy. There is a kind of joy that comes from avoiding tears that doesn’t really change you. The kind of joy from planting your tears does change you. How do you plant them – you pray them.
PRAY YOUR TEARS:
You have to put your tears in prayer into three things:
(a) a realization of His grace
(b) a vision of the cross
(c) an assurance of glory
1. A realization of His grace. You have to realize that God in His grace understands. In the last verse of Psalm 39, the psalmist prays “Look away from me that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more.” Keller says he had trouble with this. All of the psalms of David are filled with wrestling, weeping, and crying, and shaking a fist at heaven and saying “How long?”
But they always end on a note of triumph, a note of trust, a note of confidence, or a note of peace.
Psalm ends in absolute theological incorrectness. We are not supposed to pray like this, feel like this, be like this, or talk like this. Keller found himself asking what this psalm was doing in the Bible. The Scriptures are supposed to be without error. Then he came across just 2 sentences in a commentary on the book of psalms by Derek Kidner. He says the prayer “look away from me” makes no more sense than Peter’s “depart from me.” Then the final sentence: “The very presence of such prayers in the Scripture is a witness to His understanding. He knows how we speak when we are desperate.”
Although I am all for talking with friends or counselors, ultimately where your tears belong is not managed or packaged and manicured in some little confessional prayer. They belong in pre-reflective outbursts from the very depth of your being in the presence of God. God says “This isn’t the way you are supposed to speak or feel, but I want you to speak and feel in my presence. It is safe. I understand what it is like to be desperate.” So the first thing you have to have is realization of grace or you will not do that.
2. Vision of the cross. You have to plant your tears in a vision of the cross. In someways this is the most important. We have the only scripture that even claims that our God Himself came down to this world, became a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He said “My soul is sorrowful – even unto death. God knows what it is like to give a cry of dereliction or desperation: “My God, my God why has thou forsaken me.” Why would He even put Psalm 39 in as an invitation? Jesus got the abandonment we deserved.
If you look at Jesus on the cross crying “Why me,” “Why have you forsaken me?” You will still cry sometimes “Why me,” but you will not cry it the same way. Jesus Christ produced the joy of our welcome into the bosom of God. We have the tendency when bad things happen to us to feel guilty. Get rid of that – look at the cross. Even though I feel God is abandoning me, it is only apparent abandonment, because on the cross, Jesus got the real abandonment.
Weeping, grief, and disappointment are fine, but weeping and self-pity – ah – that will make you a small little person. Instead look at the cross and say, “you have suffered for me. My suffering is nothing compared to yours. If you suffered for me, I can be patient with this suffering for you.”
If you are impatient and don’t see what God is doing – look at the cross again. Think of all the number of people who saw Jesus dying on the cross and went home that night and lost their faith. So they looked right in the face of the greatest thing God ever did and said “because I don’t understand it, therefore my faith is undermined. If you plant your tears in the vision of the cross, the impatience, the self-pity, the unnecessary guilt, these things are combed out and you will start to become more like Him.
3. Plant your tears in the assurance of His glory. Keller was reading a very good book on the Psalms by Eugene Peterson called Answering God, and when he got to the last five psalms (146-150) they were nothing but praise psalms. This is what Peterson says “You have to realize what the psalms are teaching us is that true prayer, pursued far enough, will become praise.” It doesn’t always get there quickly or easily. In fact, it may take a lifetime. Don’t rush it–don’t try to push it. It make take years, it may take decades before certain prayers arrive at the hallelujahs of praise.
When you actually feel sorrow, there is a part of your heart that says it is never going to get better. This is the way it is always going to be. C.S. Lewis when he began grieving over his wife when she died said, “Nobody told me that grief was so much like fear.”
If you know all prayer will end in praise – that we are going to be with Him forever, that frees you to get involved with people’s lives even though it is going to make you weep. If you are happy enough for that, the tears you experience in ministry, repentance, and friendship will produce a harvest of joy for the people around you and for your own heart.
Wonderful notes.
Thank you so much, Deanna, for the notes on the sermon. I have not listened to it yet, but these notes are so helpful. Keller says so many profound things that I can related to and that help me understand my tears in life, the Psalms, and how Jesus could be at the same time a Man of Sorrows and our Source of Joy and Hope.
Thank you, Deanna, for your wonderful notes. Though I listened to the sermon, it helps me to read these notes again. What a worthy message.
3. In the Keller sermon this week, before he turns his attention to Psalm 126, he quotes Psalm 39:12-13. What does this say? Describe the honesty of the psalmist in his lament.
I see the psalmist approaching God at first, asking God to hear his prayers, listen to his cries for help, and not be deaf to his weeping. Yet he feels estranged from God…is this what he means when he says, “For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were”? Then the psalmist seems to back away from God, asking God to look away from him, that he may rejoice again. Is he perhaps questioning that his pain is a result of God disciplining him? It’s like he wants God to look upon him, then he wants God to look away from him. When we are really hurting, our thoughts can be so confused. We have hope that God loves us, we fear and doubt that He does.
4. What does it mean to you, as Derek Kidner said, that “God knows how men speak when they are desperate?”
He listens, and He waits. He knows that I am frail, weak, and often speak without knowledge, as Job said. He knows that I can be irrational in my thinking. I am thinking, though, that what must hurt His heart is when I accuse Him, either openly, or just in my thoughts (which He knows anyway) of not caring, of not loving me. He waits for me to come to my senses. I can act like a child having a temper tantrum, yet He doesn’t lash out at me in anger. I am thinking too about in 1 Corinthians, Paul says that we, as believers, have the mind of Christ. Perhaps this is what eventually allows us to come to our senses and slowly realign our thinking with what we know is true about God.
5. Why does God know what it feels like to be desperate?
Because He came down, became human, and experienced our humanity with all its sufferings. Jesus cried out on the Cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He must have felt a desperation He had never ever felt before as He was separated from His Father. Really, because Jesus and the Father are ONE, it must have been a severe tearing, ripping apart…so UNNATURAL…felt at a level that I cannot comprehend.
6. Keller says we must not stuff our tears (like the religious) or vent our tears (like the world) but sow our tears. Let us ponder:
A. God doesn’t want us to stuff our tears because He hates dishonesty – it keeps us from having a real relationship with Him. Give an example from either the Gospels or Acts that shows either how God hates dishonesty or loves honesty.
I am thinking of Judas, and how his dishonesty during the time he spent with Jesus kept him from having a real, life-changing relationship with Jesus. He pilfered from the money they collected, and his love for money grew in his heart and it ultimately led him to betray Jesus for money. I remember Keller’s one sermon where he said that when Jesus was ready to hand the bread to Judas, it was like He was giving Judas a last chance to come clean, to be honest, to say “You don’t have to do this; I love you…” Jesus hated what the dishonesty and lying was doing to Judas, yet He still treated Judas as all the others, even washing his feet.
B. God doesn’t want us just venting our tears, running around complaining. Paul Tripp says that complaining is self-centered and praise is God-centered. Here’s a challenge (and this is going to be a CHALLENGE): Put a guard over your heart against complaining today. Report back tonight.
Okay…starting NOW! Oh this is going to be hard…my daughter is going to her school’s homecoming dance tonight with a group of girls, and I’ve already heard a lot of complaining about girls being added to their group and plans being altered at the last minute, which leads me to grumble about having to listen to all of this drama!
C. God wants us to “sow” our tears. Reflect on the Ellen Davis quote, on the testimonies you’ve heard, and the psalms of lament, and explain what this means.
I’m not sure I can articulate what I’m thinking, but I believe that what we are “sowing” in times of weeping, grief, sorrow – is faith. Davis gave the example of the African Christians choosing to plant the seed rather than eat it now. They had to have faith that the seed would grow and produce a crop next year; otherwise, they would have eaten it now. Diane posted about how she and her friend who both lead Bible studies feel so inadequate and often struggle themselves to do the Bible study because of trials in their lives; yet, they pray and ask God to use them anyway despite their inadequacy. That is sowing faith, because faith takes the next step and acts.
In a shadowy way I see the gospel in the verses about “He who goes out weeping, bearing seed for sowing, will return with shouts of joy, bringing sheaves with him.” Jesus placed his faith in His Father, and so He acted, or sowed, that seed of faith. Jesus certainly did lots of weeping and crying out as He was punished for our sins. I sort of imagine the “seed” being Jesus’ very life, and He planted it – He gave it up, as He said once that a kernel of wheat has to die in order to produce a crop. When I think of returning with shouts of joy, I think of Jesus being raised from the dead – a joyful occasion to be sure! And I imagine that all who have or ever will put their faith in Him are the sheaves that Jesus brings home.
Personally, I imagine my own seed cupped in my hands. What is in my hands, even today, that needs to be sowed…what do I need to relinquish? Jesus said that daily, I must take up my cross and follow Him. So my sowing tears may be something I need to die to…an idol that I am cherishing, selfishness, control. But if I don’t let it go, there will be no harvest later. There is also a Scripture that says a man will reap what he sows. If I sow to my flesh, to satisfy and live for myself, I will reap a harvest of destruction. It can be painful to let go of my own wants and desires. But Jesus promises a harvest of joy if I do.
Still pondering…I think a little seed I need to sow, or plant, is fear I have about the future, and trusting the Lord with my children and also with me. I ran into my son again at work yesterday; this time, I got pulled from my current job which is telephoning discharged patients to go out and work on the medical floors to help out, as our census is very high. I really enjoyed it and realized how much I miss direct patient care! My son was with a resident doctor, making rounds. He still gave me a hug, which made me feel wonderful! The resident praised my son to me, and that made me feel so proud of him! Yet there is a nagging sorrow, because in two more years, he will go with the Navy to do his residency and be far from home. That is a seed of fear and insecurity, of exchanging the known and familiar and comfort that my son is near with seeing him leave, that I need to plant and it will be watered, I know, with lots of tears because I will miss him terribly. And so too, with my other son, as the line of work he is preparing to do will take him who knows where. What will I do when my “baby”, my daughter, flies the nest? I fear my own life becoming smaller and having no purpose…I know it is selfish to want them to stay near for me! And the other thing is that I am not 100% convinced that any of my children are born again. Each had evidences of faith when they were young; one has most definitely walked away from the Lord. I think Wanda is one example of someone who continues to sows in tears for her children.
I definitely have many tears to sow with my children, still. My kids are far from God and it does make my sad. I have hope that God will quietly touch them in their lives; I was once lost too.
7. Read Psalm 126
The Israelites are in a time of great sorrow (we don’t know what, but it doesn’t seem to be as a result of sin), but they do a number of things to “sow their tears”. Find them in the following verses:
1) Psalm 126:1-3
I see that the Israelites, called here “the captives”, are returning to Zion and are in a dream-like state, like they just can’t believe the bad times are over and they’re going home. They are laughing and singing songs of joy. (But I’m not sure I’m understanding how this is “sowing their tears” because this seems more like the “returning with shouts of joy”)
2) Psalm 126:4
They are filled with joy and giving praise to God for doing great things for them.
3) Psalm 126:5-6
They have sown their tears and are now reaping songs of joy. They went out (were led away as captives?) weeping, carrying seed to sow, and have returned with joy. If this was a time when they were handed over to their enemies because of their sin, could it be that their “sowing tears” was their time of repenting to the Lord? Tears of genuine repentance and seeking the Lord have resulted in Him restoring the joy of their salvation?
Thank you all for helping me understand the sowing of tears. I am getting ready to re-listen to Keller; I have heard it before several times. Perhaps I will have a better handle on this concept when I finish the sermon. Lizzy, I thought your idea about the seeds being worth something to the farmer was good.
Many good notes and thoughts on the sermon. Such a golden sermon.
I have not been able to post this week but with the theme of this week this writing in Streams in the Desert hit the nail on the head for me. Psalm 126:6 to me has always been interpreted when we are going through hard times and still ministering to others ( Sowing in tears) How often do we have the tendency when we have the storms of this life to pull back and be so occupied with our own life that we end up not seeing all that is surrounding us and our usefulness for His service to others is crippled. I have seen the women on this blog be such an example to me of sowing in tears. Thank you Dee for the rich content you provide here each week. Such a blessing to me! I prefer the more modern reading of this but this to me is still so good.
October 16
Satan’s Tools
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,—Heb 12:1 NET
There are weights which are not sins in themselves, but which become distractions and stumbling blocks in our Christian progress. One of the worst of these is despondency. The heavy heart is indeed a weight that will surely drag us down in our holiness and usefulness.
The failure of Israel to enter the land of promise began in murmuring, or, as the text in Numbers literally puts it, “as it were murmured.” Just a faint desire to complain and be discontented. This led on until it blossomed and ripened into rebellion and ruin. Let us give ourselves no liberty ever to doubt God or His love and faithfulness to us in everything and forever.
We can set our will against doubt just as we do against any other sin; and as we stand firm and refuse to doubt, the Holy Spirit will come to our aid and give us the faith of God and crown us with victory.
It is very easy to fall into the habit of doubting, fretting, and wondering if God has forsaken us and if after all our hopes are to end in failure. Let us refuse to be discouraged. Let us refuse to be unhappy. Let us “count it all joy” when we cannot feel one emotion of happiness. Let us rejoice by faith, by resolution, by reckoning, and we shall surely find that God will make the reckoning real.—Selected
The devil has two master tricks. One is to get us discouraged; then for a time at least we can be of no service to others, and so are defeated. The other is to make us doubt, thus breaking the faith link by which we are bound to our Father. Lookout! Do not be tricked either way.—G.E.M.
Gladness! I like to cultivate the spirit of gladness! It puts the soul so in tune again, and keeps it in tune, so that Satan is shy of touching it—the chords of the soul become too warm, or too full of heavenly electricity, for his infernal fingers, and he goes off somewhere else! Satan is always very shy of meddling with me when my heart is full of gladness and joy in the Holy Ghost.
My plan is to shun the spirit of sadness as I would Satan; but, alas! I am not always successful. Like the devil himself it meets me on the highway of usefulness, looks me so fully in my face, till my poor soul changes color!
Sadness discolors everything; it leaves all objects charmless; it involves future prospects in darkness; it deprives the soul of all its aspirations, enchains all its powers, and produces a mental paralysis!
An old believer remarked, that cheerfulness in religion makes all its services come off with delight; and that we are never carried forward so swiftly in the ways of duty as when borne on the wings of delight; adding, that Melancholy clips such wings; or, to alter the figure, takes off our chariot wheels in duty, and makes them, like those of the Egyptians, drag heavily.
Liz, thanks for sharing.
How often do we have the tendency when we have the storms of this life to pull back and be so occupied with our own life that we end up not seeing all that is surrounding us and our usefulness for His service to others is crippled.
I have seen this in my life and thankful God is merciful to bring me back to Himself and to press on.
Excellent, Liz!
Today I choose gladness. thanks
My notes on Keller’s sermon:
So good I would need to listen again soon! What struck me the most was his questions towards the end: 1. Are you happy enough to weep? 2. Are you happy enough to go out in your community and get involved? As a nurse, I have taken care of many patients but I often have distanced myself from particular areas of nursing because I FEARED what I have to face like: cancer patients, pediatrics related especially the young ones. And it now just dawned on me that I have been doing so because I am afraid of weeping, of being emotionally involved as one of my students so aptly said when she told me why she does not want to go to nursing (instead she wants to serve by way of pharmacy or veterinary). The idol of comfort is operational in this type of thinking for me. I am thinking of me! What a realization at my age and years of nursing. His point on what to sow our things in is golden for me: realization of His grace, a vision of the cross (thank you, Jesus!) and assurance of glory (all tears pursued far enough will always end in praise)
After listening to Keller’ sermon again, I do believe I get it now!! Sometimes those tears that we shed in desperation praying to God, are not sewn until many many years later. We live in such a throwaway society, that we believe things happen instantaneously, or very quickly. Here’s my example:
Several years ago, I would say probably seven or eight, I was in an awful relationship with my teenage son. He was going through the rebellious teenage years to the max. It really split our family apart at the time. In fact, we are still recovering from those years. I remember praying in desperation to God, before I knew you could speak like that to God; crying every night for years. I remember saying things like, “why me Lord? Why? Please help us, I just don’t know what to do anymore.” These were sobbing tears not just light little tears. Well the tears I sewed then have been harvested now! It just really dawned on me during Keller’sse sermon! I’m a s-l-o-w learner! Here’s the harvest….since then, my son has gone to culinary school and graduated. He has a beautiful girlfriend, and plans to try out for a semi pro soccer team in Cincinnati November 15! He is a good solid athlete (always was) and I used to cry that he didn’t want to be in high school sports because he hated high school so much (drop out but took the GED). Anyway, it’s not perfect….he doesn’t acknowledge God as I would like him to, but there is hope. There are a couple of other very bothersome personal traits, but we still have time for maturing.
we need to understand the harvest might be a long time in coming. Keller says it might be a lifetime. Think Job.
10. What is your take-a-way and why? (And how did you do with not complaining?)
Many. But Thomas Moore capped it with “Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.” Do I really believe this? Yes, I do and God help me remember this truth when my sorrow is too deep. When the needs of the world is heavy on my shoulder, I will go out and pray my tears and be courageous to do what I can in my corner of the world.
Mercies:
1. a stirring in my heart for a special ministry among people with dementia. After finishing an online class on the topic and got reacquainted with the role of music therapy in the care of these patients, I found this website that I may use as a springboard for this type of service. Thinking of involving my students. Diane suggested I share this site as some of you may have a loved one with dementia and you may not be on our FB page. http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2014/03/music-awakens-memories-in-alzheimers.html?m=1+
Jesus; you are my guide and my light as I venture into this special ministry
2. thanksgiving prompt from Ann V. 3 gifts ugly-beautiful
I wrote (with a smile on my face) ageing signs on my bod (think muffin tops and floppy arms and gray hair)Drats-am I vain or what? (Smile)
Jesus who loves me just as I am and that this decaying body will one day be renewed because of what He has done for me on the cross.