Tears in a Bottle

"Record my misery; put my tears in Your bottle; are they not in Your record?"

Psalm 56:8

These words of lament were penned by King David when he was pursued by Saul who wanted to kill him.  In fear for his life, pressed in on every side by his adversary, David fled to an enemy's country. He poured out his heart to our God, beseeching Him to "put my tears in Your bottle".  In David's time bottles (or more literally "wine skins") were used to preserve precious liquids such as oil or wine. David was asking God to remember his tears; that the tears he shed were not in vain but were precious to God.

God understands the language of tears.  The prophet Isaiah, speaking of Messiah Jesus, writes,

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering."

Isaiah 53:3

The writer of the Book of Hebrews says, 

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions

with loud cries and tears to the One Who could save Him from death..."

Hebrews 5:7

Yes, God understands the language of tears.  He remembers our sorrows.  He has, in a sense, placed them in His bottle; precious liquid.  He keeps a record of every tear shed.

He keeps that record so that someday He can personally wipe every one of those tears from our eyes. In that day, 

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order of things has passed away.

He Who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!...

Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Revelation 21:4,5