How does God deal with this Himself? Does God ever give free rein to His tears? Does He ever show His true face? Does He ever show that He is over the moon or that He is furious? Can God sing of joy, or roar, grumble and shout? (Jeremiah 25:30). When you start reading the prophets, you will find out soon enough that God doesn’t hesitate to show His true face… Not just when He is happy or pleased, but also when He is filled with anger or when He is sad. His emotional utterances almost always relate to Israel.

He shows His love for this ‘pearl’ amongst the countries, but also his tremendous anger and sorrow. See how He reacts when Israel turns its back on God and inevitably ends up in big misfortune.

If you are too proud to listen, I will weep alone. Tears will stream from my eyes when the Lord's people are taken away as prisoners (Jeremiah 13:17) Then, God makes Jeremiah say: Tears will flood my eyes both day and night, because my nation suffers from a deadly wound.
Jeremiah 14:17

These words show God’s wounded heart trough the words of his prophet Jeremiah. He gives free rein to His tears. This is an aspect of God that we are not familiar with. We cannot easily deal with God’s emotions. Yet, God is familiar with tears and He doesn’t hide them. At other times, He can’t be more thrilled… The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you (Israel). He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love (Zephaniah 3:17). This is, for that matter, the only time in the Bible that God shouts with joy. He isn’t embarrassed at all. We hide our feelings, but God shows His passion in full glory. What about this emotional reaction: So the angel told me to announce: I, the Lord All-Powerful, am very protective of Jerusalem. For a while I was angry at the nations, but now I am furious, because they have made things worse for Jerusalem and are not the least bit concerned. And so, I will have pity on Jerusalem. The city will be completely rebuilt, and my temple will stand again (Zechariah 1:14-16). How passionate! Right in these days of restoration (Psalms 102:14 and further) you read about His great involvement concerning His beloved Israel (Jeremiah 12:7). Israel, I can't let you go. I can't give you up. ( ) My feelings for you are much too strong. Israel, I won't lose my temper and destroy you again ( ) (Hosea 11:8, 9)

Words of great compassion for Israel. Each and every morning, as we climb up the walls, we pray if He would fill our hearts with the same compassion. You and I, the church, can’t function as watchmen without His grace and movement. It is God’s passion that becomes noticeable through you and me and that makes the Jewish people anxious. That’s where we meet them. Perhaps we have to conclude that we lost a bit of this (com)passion, along the way…?

We know how to control ourselves. Naturally, self-control is a great gift but what to think of our emotional passion? Where has it gone? Do you dare to show your true face? For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet. Be part of Gideon’s gang of watchmen that proclaim God’s words of restoration and compassion for Israel and the Jewish people. The time for grace has come, this is the hour. See you on the walls of Jerusalem!