Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 30:5
I praise God as He's the one and only who's worthy of all praises. He's always in control. As what's stated in Ecclesiaste chapter 3 (v.1-8): There is a season for everything, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. And God has made everything beautiful in its time.
I've been crying and down for so long. What gain have I got from the toil? I've learned what it means to weep with the people who are weeping. I've witnessed what the gospel means to people who're dying. And I've understood all men share the same ending; no one can escape - we will have to face all the sins in our lives. For the truth God's revealed to me, I give thanks to Him. And just as Solomon said, I should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil. This is God's gift to man.
Jeremiah, the prophet of tears, for decades he'd been telling God's people (his brothers) to turn back to their Jehovah (the existing one). The Isrealites were so stubborn that they remained the same, even they were warned that their city would be destroyed. During his mission time, he experienced all kinds of humility, sorrows and frustration. However, in his Lamentations, he sang: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust - there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. (v.22-33)
