A River of Tears
“Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” -Psalm 119:136
We’ve all heard the expression, “cry me a river,” and here in the 119th Psalm is perhaps one of the earliest instances of it. The psalmist had grown so close to God, that he is utterly grieved and deeply laments when God’s people do not keep the law of their Lord.
He is deeply hurt, and shares in God’s pain. The psalmist knows the consequences for disobedience, and as a result, rivers of water stream down from his eyes. For perhaps he recalls the somber warning given by God in times past:
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” -Deuteronomy 30:19-20
When considering the emptiness of sin, and how deceptive it can be, the psalmist poured out streams of tears for God’s people. Not only were they turning their backs on the God that made and redeemed them, but they were then choosing out idols and false gods to serve.
“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” -Psalm 119:97
The psalmist loved God’s law so intensely, and had been drawn so near unto God, and was so familiar with His own heart, that it grieved him to see the people sin. It hurt him so deeply to see the people breaking God’s commandments: bringing hurt and confusion to their lives, when they ought to have trusted in God’s precepts, and had life and health.
“I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.” -Psalm 119:158
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