Psalm 56:9
Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll –
are they not in your record?
Explanation of this work of art
Jar of tears. God has a jar of tears. This is an image which makes us to pause. God is someone you can ask to catch and collect your tears. God is someone for who our tears have infinite value. He collects and keeps our tears to use at a later time. Our mourning, grief, sadness, impotence – we don’t have to hide it. We don’t have to ignore our tears; we may welcome them. We may welcome them in the faith that God will notice. We may welcome them because we know there is a place where they are kept. The acknowledgement that our tears have value gives us new vitality. – Jedi Noordegraaf
What makes you cry?
Everyone has to deal with grief and loss at some point in life. That is the case for someone who lost a loved one, but also when someone in Arnhem loses his house and becomes homeless. Can we bear each other’s grief and is there something much greater that will give us comfort? Today people tell us that we don’t have to process grief, we should give it a place. Better yet, we should say that we have to accept grief and to give it a place. Every person deals with grief differently. For each of us it is true that it is better not to be alone when we are grieving.
What grief would you like to have acknowledged by others?
Psalm 56
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.”
Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
Be merciful to me, my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
all day long they press their attack.
My adversaries pursue me all day long;
in their pride many are attacking me.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise –
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
All day long they twist my words;
all their schemes are for my ruin.
They conspire, they lurk,
they watch my steps,
hoping to take my life.
Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.
Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll –
are they not in your record?
Then my enemies will turn back
when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise –
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
I am under vows to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
The art of Jedi Noordegraaf is for sale in his web shop: www.studiovandaar.nl