Tears to Joy Psalm 30
Let me start off by asking you; what brings you to tears? If you think about it, what breaks you? Maybe it’s a past hurt or pain, and maybe it’s a present reality; perhaps it’s both. You are a Christian, you love Jesus, you know Jesus loves you, but there is something that you had, or have, no control over; but the Lord didn’t or hasn’t answered you. This sermon is for you this morning; hopefully an encouragement.
David was writing this Psalm. How do we know: the title. Joy Comes with the Morning A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.
He was writing as an older man; he was acknowledging God, over his life. (verse 3) “O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.” He was spared from the Philistines as a young soldier, he was spared from Saul when he was hunting him down. Also, “By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.” (verse 7) Later in life, when his son Absalom rebelled against him, God delivered him.
He knew blessing and God’s healing (verse 2) “O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.” Psalm 51, after his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the loss of a child. God healed David and his relationship with God. David’s son Solomon was born who would expand Israel’s borders and ultimately build the temple.
David acknowledged the tough times and tears, but put it into perspective. “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (verse 5)
Tears do come and will come, but there is joy in the morning. An understanding of God’s love means there is an understanding of the problem. Denial of the truth, or an avoidance of it, will never bring true peace. Ignorance is never bliss. When it comes to an understanding of sin, it’s associated pain and consequences, ignorance brings eternal tears. Why would anyone willingly, wilfully take that road? No.
The shortest verse in the bible is very poignant. (John 11:35) “Jesus wept,” but that wasn’t the end for Lazarus. The cross wasn’t the final chapter, even when Jesus said, “It is finished.” There is a purpose in the day of grief. (Psalm 126:5, 6) “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
David’s pain was associated with his past sin, but in many ways, this is not the case.
The ultimate reaping of joy. (Revelation 21:1-4) “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
What hope does any farmer have for a crop if there is no rain? Tears are rain on the soil for the Christian. What are some things that cause the Christian to sow in tears?
May I suggest a number of things?
1. It may be owing to the poor quality of the soil he has to work with. Some situations are not conducive to blessing; a family history that has been sown in the soil of depression, anger, abuse, addiction or neglect.
2. Sometimes it’s just the season in life, a season to sow tears, winter periods, where there is little rain, such as the bitterness of loss, little encouragement from others, energy levels become depleted through stress or illness.
3. Malice and opposition of enemies. This comes under discouragement and can happen especially as we labour in the world, trying to be salt and light. Someone at work has it in for you; worse when it is in the home and there is a constant barrage of opposition to your desires to follow after Christ. Maybe the burden of debt and the opposition comes from yourself; I will never get out from under this burden
4. Fear of failure, past disappointments, and yet knowing that there is a great amount of work before you that seems insurmountable.
The important thing is to recognise the season, and activity that needs to be done in the season; for the Christian: the spiritual disciplines of daily prayer and bible reading, maintaining a Christ centred witness in our role and responsibilities within our family, our calling and ministry within the church, in the world, etc.
What connection is there between sowing in tears and reaping in joy? Solomon told us there is great benefit. He said it’s better to go to the house of mourning than the house of feasting.” (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4)
So, what would cause the disciples to have this sorrow? Jesus said these cryptic words: (John 16:16) “A little while, and you will see Me no longer, and again a little while, and you will see Me…”
You may have to wait a while. Take a look at the title of the Psalm again. “A song at the dedication of the temple.” David’s heart was to build the temple. He wrote a Psalm to be played and sung at its dedication, but David was told by God, “You will not build me a house.” (1 Chronicles 28:3) Why? Because he was a man of war and had shed blood. The temple was to be a place of peace built by a man of peace; that would be David’s son Solomon. David didn’t receive; he didn’t see what his heart desired. Maybe that’s you. You had or have some pain, some tears. You didn’t receive what you sought for. God’s not done with you yet. For the Christian the best days are yet to come.
Jesus has no more tears and neither should we; the door of salvation is wide open, the veil has been torn in two, we have full and complete access to a loving and merciful Father, come to Him again this morning. There are days when we get some bad news, things seem to be going in the wrong direction. Your redemption is very near. He wants you to get your hopes up. He says rejoice in the Lord today.