“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He, who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6)
According to the Psalmist’s experience with God, when we plant in tears, the promise is, we will harvest joy.
This passage, and others, that speak about a tormented spirit, describe various functions associated to what we might call “the ministry of tears,” a ministry that Charles Spurgeon defined as “liquid prayer.”
What purpose might compassionate tears or “Liquid prayer” serve the believer?
We might shed tears of joy:
“And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.” (Genesis: 33:4)
We might shed tears of grief and trauma:
“Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.” (2 Kings 20:5)
We might shed tears of compassion:
“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)
We might shed tears of travail, or giving birth:
“I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.” (Isaiah 42:14)
We might shed tears of desperation:
“When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
2 And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
3 And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.” (Ester 4:1-3)
We might shed tears of repentance:
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.” (Joel 2:12-13)
Charles H. Spurgeon said; “The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were so far as he was concerned, the sacred keys by which the sealed book was opened” — “And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” (Rev. 5:4)
Prayer, washed in passionate tears, will bring about specific spiritual victories.
Believers will weep over many videos, movies, and books, but how many of the same will weep and pray over someone else’s need? How many will weep and pray over lost loved ones? Or, a nation in need of revival and spiritual awakening?
Intercession is a heart moved to compassion!
Beloved believers, who will shed tears and pray similar prayers for America?
“LORD God, it is from a troubled, humbled heart, with many tears, that I ask You to shake all of America . . . using events which I cannot imagine necessary–to shake what can be shaken, to do what You deem must be done, so that doors will be open in homes, schools, work places, government agencies, for the dynamic Gospel to come in . . . new, fresh, and powerful . . . so believers will have a new zeal and freedom to worship . . . and millions will be saved. LORD God, snatch America out of the hands of evil men and women—to the glory of You and Your Kingdom. Let Your Kingdom fall on America, now! In Jesus’ name, Amen!”