Birds of the Bible
7. The Sparrow – Bird of Sorrow
“I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top”
(Psalm 102:7)
Image: morguefile.com
The sparrow is one of our most common birds. Like the swallow which we looked at last time, it seems to like the places where we live. In fact one species is named the House Sparrow because it is so often found in our towns and villages. I am sure that you have seen this bird where you live, round about your home or in your garden, as it looks perhaps for seeds, insects or any edible scraps that man has left behind.
Small flocks of sparrows may be seen perched on buildings or searching the ground for food, often chirping loudly. By nature the sparrow is a cheerful bird and it is only really content when in company. Here in the Bible though we meet a strange thing: a sparrow all alone. The Psalmist, usually so joyful in the Lord, is on this occasion so distressed in his soul that he feels himself to be just like such a sparrow.
Something we quickly learn as Christians is that the life of faith, though a blessed one, is not free from sorrow. Sin has made this world a sad place. There is sickness and suffering, disease and death. God’s people are not spared these things. But there are also burdens to be carried because we are believers. Christ is our first love and we have pledged ourselves to serve Him, come what may. We must always stand for what is true and right and defend His cause.
Jesus said: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up the cross, and follow me” (Matt.16:24). As Christians we have many privileges. We have fellowship with other believers in the body of Christ. We belong to loving families and faithful congregations. But no church or family or Christian is perfect! We may find that other Christians misunderstand us, brothers or sisters oppose us, and congregations become divided.
It is easy to become discouraged in the Christian life today. We see society becoming more greedy, violent and immoral. If we speak out against sin few will sympathise with us. If we are really zealous for the Lord then we may be on our own. When we experience such things our feelings are often hurt. We are like the sad and lonely sparrow on the rooftop. Other believers, including Elijah and Jeremiah in Scripture, have been there before. Are there any encouragements for Christians in these times of sorrow?
We should reflect that we are precious to God. The sparrow is a dull, drab bird of little worth among men. Jesus said: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?” (Matt.10:29). Likewise many may think little of God’s people and mock and mistreat them. Yet Jesus says to them, “ye are of more value than many sparrows” (v.31). To Him they were worth the shedding of His own precious blood when He died for their sins to redeem them. “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men” (1Cor.7:23).
We should consider that we are remembered by God. Even the tiny sparrows are cared for by God. Jesus said: “One of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father” (v.29). Think of the millions of sparrows in the world. God remembers them all. He keeps everything in His creation. But especially He watches over His own children and delivers them in their time of trouble. Jesus says to them, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (v.30). That is how well He knows them and all their circumstances! So God does not forget – not even for one minute – His own people in their different trials. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb.13:5).
We should know that we are going to God. Just as the sparrow will be sad at times so Christians will mourn while they are in this world, not only because of the sin which they see in others but because of the sin which they see in themselves. God chastises them for it and they long to be delivered from it all. And one day they shall be! These words of Jesus are for them: “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt.5:4).
Here God’s people are being prepared for heaven. Their sorrows as well as their joys are needed to make them holy like their Saviour. When by grace every trace of sin has finally been removed from their hearts then “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Rev.20:4) and they shall be perfectly happy. Then they shall look back and understand all the way which the Lord led them. The words which they had often sung on earth shall mean so much to them then. “For but a moment lasts his wrath; life in his favour lies: Weeping may for a night endure, at morn doth joy arise”.
