Difference between revisions of "Sorrow"

<p> Uneasiness or grief, arising from the privation of some good we actually possessed. It is the oposite to joy. Though sorrow may be allowable under a sense of sin, and when involved in troubles, yet we must beware of an extreme. Sorrow, indeed, becomes sinful and excessive when it leads us to slight our mercies; causes us to be insensible to public evils; when it diverts us from duty; so oppresses our bodies as to endanger our lives; sours the spirit with discontent, and makes us inattentive to the precepts of God's word, and advice of our friends. In order to moderate our sorrows, we should consider that we are under the direction of a wise and merciful Being; that he permits no evil to come upon us without a gracious design; that he can make our troubles sources of spiritual advantage; that he might have afflicted us in a far greater degree; that, though he has taken some, yet he has left many other comforts; that he has given many promises of relief: thet he has supported thousands in as great troubles as ours: and, finally, that the time is coming when he will wipe away all tears, and give to them that love him a crown of glory that fadeth not away. </p> <p> See RESIGNATION. </p>

<p> ''''' sor´ō ''''' ( חבל , <i> ''''' ḥēbhel ''''' </i> , יגון , <i> ''''' yāghōn ''''' </i> , מכאוב , <i> ''''' makh'ōbh ''''' </i> , etc.; λύπη , <i> ''''' lúpē ''''' </i> ): The Old [[Testament]] has very many words translated "sorrow," those named being the most frequent; in the New Testament "sorrow" is usually the translation of <i> ''''' lúpē ''''' </i> (&nbsp; Luke 22:45; &nbsp;John 16:6; &nbsp;2 Corinthians 2:3 , &nbsp;2 Corinthians 2:7 , etc.). <i> '''''Pénthos''''' </i> , translated "sorrow" in &nbsp;Revelation 18:7; &nbsp;Revelation 21:4 , is in the Revised Version (British and American) "mourning." <i> '''''Odúnē''''' </i> , of pain-and distress, is thus rendered in &nbsp;Romans 9:2; &nbsp;1 Timothy 6:10 (compare the verb in &nbsp; Luke 2:48; &nbsp;Acts 20:38 ). the Revised Version (British and American) frequently gives a more literal rendering of the words used, as "toil" (&nbsp;Genesis 3:17 ), "pangs" (&nbsp;Exodus 15:14 ), "pining" (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 28:65 ), "distress" (&nbsp;Isaiah 5:30 ), "lamentation" (&nbsp;Isaiah 29:2 ), etc.; sometimes also it uses "sorrow" for other words, as for "grief" (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 6:29; &nbsp;Psalm 31:10; &nbsp;Psalm 69:26; etc.; &nbsp;2 Corinthians 2:5 ), "heaviness" (&nbsp;Romans 9:2; &nbsp;2 Corinthians 2:1 ). </p> <p> Sorrow or grief is necessary for discipline, for the development of the finer feelings and higher nature of the soul and spirit (&nbsp;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" (&nbsp;Isaiah 53:3 ). Christians learn how to be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (&nbsp;2 Corinthians 6:10; &nbsp;2 Corinthians 7:4; &nbsp;Colossians 1:24; &nbsp;1 Thessalonians 1:6; etc.). 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 (&nbsp;Revelation 21:4 ). </p>

<p> (representing in the A.V. many [[Hebrew]] and several Greek words), mental pain or grief, arising from the privation of some good we actually possessed. It is the opposite to joy. This passion contracts the heart, sinks the spirit, and injures the health. [[Scripture]] cautions against it (&nbsp;Proverbs 25:20; Ecclesiastes 14:13; 30:24, 25; &nbsp;1 Thessalonians 4:13, etc.), but Paul distinguishes two sorts of sorrow — one a godly, the other a worldly sorrow (&nbsp;2 Corinthians 7:10): "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death." So the wise man (&nbsp;Ecclesiastes 7:3) says that the grave and serious air of a master who reproves is more profitable than the laughter and caresses of those who flatter. Our Lord upbraided that counterfeit air of sorrow and mortification which the [[Pharisees]] affected when they fasted, and cautioned his disciples against all such affectation which proposes to gain the approbation of men (&nbsp;Matthew 6:16). (See [[Grief]]). </p> <p> Though sorrow may be allowable under a sense of sin, and when involved in troubles, yet we must beware of an extreme. Sorrow, indeed, becomes sinful and excessive when it leads us to slight our mercies, causes us to be insensible to public evils; when it diverts us from duty, so oppresses our bodies as to endanger our lives, sours the spirit with discontent, and makes us inattentive to the precepts of God's Word and to the advice of our friends. In order to moderate our sorrows, we should consider that we are under the direction of a wise and merciful Being; that he permits no evil to come upon us without a gracious design;. that he can make our troubles sources of spiritual advantage; that he might have afflicted us in a far greater degree; that though he has taken some, yet he has left many other comforts; that he has given many promises of relief; that he has supported thousands in as great troubles as ours; finally, that the time is coming when he will wipe away all tears, and give to them that love him a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (See [[Resignation]]). </p>