“Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey Your instructions.”-Psalm 119:136
I remember years ago hearing the song, “Break My Heart" by David Crowder. The first verse of the song says, “I found my hope in You. And I found strength and comfort too. Why is the forgetting so easily done? Remembering hard, just remember to run.” Those lyrics and the music touched my heart deeply. I could so clearly relate. Maybe you can too. It’s unfortunate how easily I/we can forget God. We can so readily fail to recall how vital it is to follow His good ways. The chorus of the same song goes on to say, “Break my heart with the things that break Yours. Break my heart and make it purer." That song inspired me. Truly, what a God-honoring prayer, asking God to make our hearts care about what He cares about!
In Psalm 119:136, we read of the Psalmist being overcome with emotion to the point of tears. What caused him to cry? Did someone die? Was he physically hurt? Actually, none of these. What broke the Psalmist’s heart was something that breaks God's heart too. Let’s re-read the passage which says, “Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey Your instructions." We're told very plainly why the Psalmist was so upset: it was because he became keenly aware that people were disobeying God’s Word. Clearly God had moved the heart of the writer. The Psalmist had personally come to realize the great value of God's instructions: "Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them” (Psalm 119:129)! The Psalmist had come to delight in God's commands. Thus, when seeing others ignore God’s decrees, it literally led him to tears of sadness. His heart broke for what breaks God’s heart.
May God work in each of us similarly. Might He help us to know and love His ways! Afterall, as it's put in Psalm 119:138, “Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy." With the same passion, let’s pray for God to work in us in such a way that our hearts break for what breaks His heart. Without a doubt, that will lead to being saddened when we and others ignore and disobey God’s instructions. For God knows what we need most: We need Him! We need His directives for us! Might He lead us in such a way that instead of disobeying His Word, we all would sincerely echo Psalm 119:60, “I will hurry, without delay, to obey Your commands.”
Cheer Up, friends!
-Scott