Oh, that my head were waters and my eyes a reservoir of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Jeremiah 9:1 (AMPC)
Chemists tell us that tears are a combination of sodium chloride, phosphate of lime, mucus and water. Medics will confirm that tears are secretions that clean and lubricate the eyes. Lacrimation is apparently the technical term for the production or shedding of tears.
Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. He wrote Lamentations in addition to the book of Jeremiah and we can see how his heart is broken for his people.
My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city. Lamentations 2:11 (NIV)
Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed. My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief. Lamentations 3:48-49 (NIV)
Likewise, Nehemiah was moved to tears.
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
Listen to the Psalmist too.
My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Psalm 42:3 (AMPC)
You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book? Psalm 56:8 (ESV)
Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed. Psalm 119:136 (NIV)
Jesus cried.
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it. Luke 19:41 (NIV)
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, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)
Paul cried. He said:
“I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.” Acts 20:19 (NIV)
For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. 2 Corinthians 2:4 (NIV)
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Philippians 3:18 (NIV)
How about us?
Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers; and of weeping as a constant dropping of importunate intercession which will wear its way right surely into the very heart of mercy, despite the stony difficulties which obstruct the way. Charles H Spurgeon (1834-1892)