«You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book» (Psalm 56:8, NLT).
ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION in the superscription, Psalm 56 was written by David when, in desperation because of Saul’s fierce persecution, he fled to Philistine territory. On that occasion, David felt so afraid of Achish, king of Gath, that he pretended to be insane and thus deceive the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 21:13).
Psalm 56 begins with a request for mercy. David feels that his enemies are stalking him at all times and that, unless God does something, he will finally be devoured. Then, in the second part, he thanks God because he trusts that deliverance will come. In the midst of both sections is todays text: «You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book» (v. 8, NLT).
Tears in a bottle? Was David using a figure of speech here, or alluding to some custom of the time? When Dr. Lloyd Erickson, the author of The Embrace of God, read this passage, he contacted the Andrews Universitys Horn Archaeological Museum staff. To his surprise, the university’s archaeologists informed him that they had found several of these bottles while digging in ancient tombs. He was told that, in ancient times, while weeping the death of a loved one, relatives made sure to bottle the tears they shed, and then bury the bottles when they buried the deceased. Dr. Erickson says he subsequently visited the museum and there he was able to hold in his hands one of those bottles of tears. It was more than two thousand years old!
While there is no certainty that David specifically referred to this custom, we do know that, in his most extreme trials, when his very life was in danger, he trusted that God knew his troubles. David not only trusted that his tears did not go unnoticed by God; he also believed that divine help would come to him at a time of greatest need: «My enemies will retreat,» he wrote, «when I call to you for help» (v. 9, NLT).
On what basis did the psalmist rely on believing that God knew his troubles, and that He would do something to alleviate them? «This I know: God is on my side!» (v. 9, NLT)
Isn’t this wonderful? If you are crying right now because of the many troubles that oppress your heart, remember that God takes note of your tears; and that, in the midst of your troubles, He will always be on your side. And with God on your side, who can be against you?
Thank You, heavenly Father, because even my tears are important to You, and because You answer me when I cry to You for help.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
