Devotionals

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Tears in a Bottle
Ps 56:1-13
1 {For the choir director; according to Jonath elem rehokim. A Mikhtam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.}
1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; fighting all day long he oppresses me.
2 My foes have trampled upon me all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.
3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can {mere} man do to me?
5 All day long they distort my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They attack, they lurk, they watch my steps, as they have waited {to take} my life.
7 Because of wickedness, cast them forth, in anger put down the peoples, O God!
8 You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in your bottle. Are {they} not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; this I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, {whose} word I praise, in the LORD, {whose} word I praise,
11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
12 Your vows are {binding} upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

1 Pet 5:6-7
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
(NAU)
The reference here is to lachrymatories (tear bottles) in which the tears of mourning friends and relatives were collected at the height of their grief. This was a relatively common practice among many Near Eastern people. Many believed that if a person were dying and all other medicines had failed, they would try putting collected tears into the dying one's mouth in the hope of reviving him.
As much as God hates the wicked-
Ps 5:5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all who do iniquity.
He loves and tenderly cares about us.
Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

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