They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
] A proverbial expression, encouraging faith in prayer put up for
the return of the captivity, whether in a literal or spiritual
sense. Praying or seeking the Lord is sowing in righteousness, (
Hosea 10:12 )
; which is often attended with tears and weeping; the issue of
them is not always seen soon: these, like seed, lie buried under
the clods, but take effect and will rise up in due time: saints
should wait patiently for a return of them, as the husbandman for
the fruits of the earth; in due time they will produce a large
crop of blessings, a plentiful harvest, which the praying saint
will reap with joy; as those that prayed and waited for the
redemption in Jerusalem; and as those that pray for the latter
day glory, the conversion of the Jews, the fulness of the
Gentiles, and the destruction of antichrist; the souls under the
altar have been sowing in tears, but before long they will reap
in joy, ( Revelation
6:9 ) ( Revelation
19:1 Revelation
19:2 ) . It may be applied to the state and condition of
saints in common in this life; now is their sowing time, and
careful they should be that they sow not to the flesh, but to the
spirit: and a sorrowful time it is, on account of inward
corruptions, Satan's temptations, divine desertions, and the
imperfection of their services; but before long they will reap
life everlasting, reap in joy, and be in the fulness of it; now
they weep, then they shall rejoice; now they mourn, then they
shall be comforted.