Survey of Firstfruit Fundamentals
Lesson 8: Sorrow
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"Success is nothing more than a few basic spiritual disciplines, practiced every day."
"Success is the natural
consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals."
What is sorrow?
What does the Bible say about sorrow?
Are there different kinds of sorrow mentioned in the Bible?
Is there a good kind of sorrow mentioned in the Bible?
Do we find any of God’s servants experiencing sorrow?
Did Jesus know sorrow? If so, what did He do about it?
What should I do when sorrow visits me?
What is Sorrow? This from a normal dictionary:
noun
--distress caused by loss, affliction, disappointment, etc.; grief, sadness, or
regret.
--a cause or occasion of grief or regret, as an affliction, a misfortune, or
trouble:
--the expression of grief, sadness, disappointment, or the like:
What does the Bible dictionary say on this word?
First, it gives a list of other words that are rendered as sorrow:
Toil
Genesis 41:51
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath
made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
Commentary:
For God, said he, hath made me forget all my
toil, and all my father's house - all his toil and labour in
Potiphar's house, and especially in the prison; and all the injuries his
brethren had done him; all this he was made to forget by the grandeur and
honour, wealth and riches, power and authority he was possessed of; and indeed
he had so much business upon his hands, that he had scarce time to think of his
father, and his family. ~John Gill
The Old Testament has very many words
translated “sorrow."
Pangs - H2427 -- a sudden feeling of mental or emotional distress or longing:
Exodus 15:14
The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
Pining - H1671 -- to yearn deeply; suffer with longing; long painfully
Deuteronomy 28:65 …blessings and cursings chapter
And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
Distress - H6862 -- great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.
Isaiah 5:30
And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
Lamentation - H592 -- the act of lamenting or expressing grief.
Isaiah 29:2
Yet I will distress Ariel (city where David dwelt), and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.
Grief - H4341 -- keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.
2 Chronicles 6:29
Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:
Psalm 31:10 - H3015 -- keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.
For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
Heaviness - H3077 -- of great force, intensity, turbulence.
Romans 9:2
That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
2 Corinthians 2:1 - H3077
But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
I went to the International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia (ISBD) for what it had
on the word, “sorrow.” After the definition, which I have essentially given you
so far, it says this:
Sorrow or grief is necessary for discipline, for the development of the finer
feelings and higher nature of the soul and spirit (Ecclesiastes_7:3,
“Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart
is made glad,” margin “better”). Sorrow inevitably follows sin, and
is its punishment, yet the righteous are not exempt from it. The “Servant of
Yahweh” was “a man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3). Christians learn how to be
“sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians_6:10; 2 Corinthians 7:4;
Colossians_1:24; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; etc.). ~International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Quoted verses:
Ecclesiastes 7:3
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Isaiah 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
2 Corinthians 6:10
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
2 Corinthians 7:4
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
1 Thessalonians 1:6
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
Man of Sorrows
Jesus, a man of sorrows
Isaiah 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
So Jesus is said to be a man of sorrows and aquainted with grief. But what did He do in this life as a human?
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Let us break these two verses down
Isaiah 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Commentary on Isaiah 53:3
A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief - or "known by grief"; he was known by his troubles, notorious for them; these were his constant companions, his familiar acquaintance, with whom he was always conversant; his life was one continued series of sorrow, from the cradle to the cross [stake]; in his infancy his life was sought for by Herod, and he was obliged to be taken by his parents, and flee into Egypt; he ate his bread in sorrow, and with the sweat of his brow; he met with much sorrow from the hardness and unbelief of men's hearts, and from the contradiction of sinners against himself, and even much from the frowardness of his own disciples; much from the temptations of Satan, and more from the wrath and justice of God, as the surety of his people; he was exceeding sorrowful in the garden, when his sweat was as it were great drops of blood; and when on the cross [stake], under the hidings of his Father's face, under a sense of divine displeasure for the sins of his people, and enduring the pains and agonies of a shameful and an accursed death; he was made up of sorrows, and grief was familiar to him. Some render it, "broken with infirmity", or "grief": ~John Gill
Despite all these woes, He overcame them.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Notice the John Gill commentary:
In the world ye shall have tribulation - this is certain from this declaration of Christ, who is the omniscient God, and truth itself; from the instance and example of Christ, who was all his life a man of sorrows; from the conformity of the members to the head; from the divine appointment that has so determined it; from the natural enmity of the world to the saints; from the experience of the people of God in all ages; from the usefulness of tribulation to try the graces, and bring about the temporal, spiritual, and eternal good of believers: and though they have tribulation in the world, yet not by way of punishment for sin, but as fatherly corrections and chastenings for their good, that they may not be condemned with the world; and it is only in this present world they have it; as soon as they have done with the world, they will have done with tribulation:
But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world - it is very observable how the phrase, "in the world ye shall have tribulation", stands, and is encompassed, before, with these words, "that in me ye might have peace", and behind, with these, "be of good cheer", &c. Believers, of all men, notwithstanding their tribulations, have reason to be of good cheer, since their sins are forgiven, the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts, their redemption draws nigh, and they have hopes of glory; and particularly, because as Christ here says, for their encouragement under all their tribulations in the world, "I have overcome the world": Satan, the god and prince of the world, with all his principalities and powers, which Christ has led captive, ransomed his people from, and delivers them from the power of; and all that is in the world, the lusts and sins of it, their damning power by the sacrifice of himself, and their governing power by his Spirit and grace; and the men of the world with all their rage and fury, whom he has trodden down in his anger, restrains by his power, and causes the remainder of their wrath to praise him; in all which conquests he makes his people share, and even makes them more than conquerors, through himself: so that they have nothing to fear from the world; nor any reason to be cast down by the tribulation they meet with in it. ~John Gill
Notice the verses linked to John 16:33. They reflect His mindset and ours:
John 16:1-11
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Note: Jesus tells them of the sorrows and tribulations they will have and gives a promise that a "Comforter" [Holy Spirit] will come to give us power, boldness, joy and gladness and the knowledge that Christ has overcome and judged the prince of this world.
He said this earlier in chapter 12 of John:
John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Note: Does this not bring you peace and joy? What is Jesus doing here? He is giving all firstfruits [and ultimately everyone] the 10,000-year perspective. He is filling your mind with future events that affect your entire eternity. No more sorrow.
1 Samuel 17:50-52 David and Goliath
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
Note: Why is this verse connected to John 16:33 and Jesus talking of us having tribulation yet encouraging us to be of good cheer? These verses are a prime example for you to know peace, power and cheerfulness despite the given tribulation. It is a picture of you overcoming all negative trials, understanding all trials and tribulations and seeing the end of it before it arrives. Goliath, means, among other things, "Mountain." Was it not Jesus in Mark 11:23 who stated that with Godly faith, we could remove mountains [insurmountable objects]?
Goliath, in 1 Samuel pictures the trials, tribulations and obstacles of this life. David's actions picture our forsaking worry and facing the tribulation/obstacle head-on. The fearful Philistines, who fled, picture our trials running from our power and boldness. The men of Israel and of Judah arising and shouting as they pursued the Philistines picture our extreme joy of overcoming sin and the tribulations of this life. Notice how God prolongs this joy as we imagine Israel and Judah chasing the Philistines for approximately 12 miles on foot.
John 16:33 states that Jesus has overcome the world and the tribulations of His physical life. Who do you think was with David and in David that day he slew Goliath?
Psalm 68:17-21
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
Note: God gives us another picture of overcoming tribulation and having good cheer. Look at those promises: He has a spirit army behind us of chariots and angels. He leads captivity captive. He, everyday loads us with benefits. He brings us salvation and takes personal possession of the issues of death, meaning that He will deliver us from death and our tribulations. He will wound the head of our enemies.
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Note: With these facts of life and these promises, how could we not feel joy and gladness and have that 10,000-year perspective?
Galatians 1:3-4
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Note: Promise of deliverance from evil.
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Note: We overcome the world and tribulation/obstacles because Christ is in us, just as He was in David when he slew Goliath.
...and now one of the most profound verses on the subject:
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Note: We are currently the ones born of God. By virtue of our being in the salvation process and having the Spirit of God in us and having Christ working in and through us by that Spirit, we overcome the world and know victory. We do this by having and constantly manifesting the same faith God has [Mark 11:22] See my sermon, "Tell it to the Mountain"
Remember what I read to you early in this Bible
study from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia?
Sorrow or grief is necessary for discipline, for the development of the finer
feelings and higher nature of the soul and spirit. Sorrow inevitably follows
sin, and is its punishment, yet the righteous are not exempt from it. The
“Servant of Yahweh” was “a man of sorrows”. Christians learn how to be
“sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”
~International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
If sorrow and grief is necessary to our salvation process, what happens when all judgment is done and all those alive are spirit being?
In the New Jerusalem it is predicted that there
shall be no sorrow, for sorrow shall have done its work, and the first things
have passed away (Revelation_21:4).
~International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Revelation 21:1-4
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the
former things are passed away. ~emphasis mine
So look ahead with hope and much joy. The day
is coming when sorrow will have done her work and will cease to exist in the
Universe!!
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