GOOD SORROW?

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God. 

The Israelites had been in exile for a very long time, seventy years to be exact. This was the period of God’s judgment imposed on the Israelite people, His people, after their continuous run of disobedience and disrespect towards Him.

We know that the Babylonians were used by God to carry out His judgment. They invaded the southern kingdom and laid it to waste, including the holy city of Jerusalem. Those Israelites who survived the onslaught were hauled away into captivity.

While in Babylon, the exiled Israelites had a lot of time to think about what they had done. Many were ready to return to the Promised Land after God’s imposed penalty to start anew. And so when the Persians defeated the Babylonians late into the time of exile, the stage was set for God to allow His people to return and rebuild their lives, their nation, and their relationship with Him.

In the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we read about how the Persian king Cyrus permitted the Israelites to return to their homeland if they so chose and I think it’s important to remember than not everyone went back. For those who did, we read about this event that took place as Ezra opened up and read the words of the Law:

On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. Nehemiah 9:1-3

Once the Israelites came back to their nation, we see in the last verse of chapter 7 through chapter 9 of Nehemiah that a priority was given to return to worshipping God and reconnecting with His word written in the Law. There were times of celebration and praise but then there was a time of solemn repentance as well as we see in the opening three verses of chapter 9. The scene was one of deep, heartfelt sorrow as the Israelites gathered together while fasting, wearing sackcloth, and heaping dust on their heads, the latter an intentional display of repentance. The scene was one of godly sorrow, a sorrow brought on by confession, a realization of just how sinful the Israelites had been before their God. It was this sorrow that brought the Israelites to repentance and a renewed commitment to get right with God and not repeat the errors of their ancestors.

Through this Old Testament event, we are reminded that a renewed relationship with God after one has strayed from His will into sin will lead to godly sorrow which in turn will result in repentance. When we read the word of God, illuminated and enhanced by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will always be convicted of our wrongs and led to a place of godly sorrow, saddened by our failure to be the person God wants us to be. This conviction and its subsequent repentance put us in a place where we can start fresh, having asked for forgiveness and knowing God will grant it when we are sincere in our confession and commitment to live in righteousness.

As we look at our single verse from 2 Corinthians 7, we see Paul reaffirming the beauty found in godly sorrow. Look again at his words here:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. v. 10

When we come to the Lord in solemn confession, admitting our sin, we come knowing He is willing to forgive us from our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). This pardon leaves us with no regret as we have gotten ourselves right with God in the moment and we are reminded of the eternal hope we have through belief in Jesus who gave His life as an atonement for the sins of all mankind. Anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Conversely, worldly sorrow has no connection to salvation because those feeling sorry for something they have done aren’t really sincere about it. If they were, then they would confess before the God who judges all and is willing to save them. Those in the world but not in Christ are traveling a road to death and eternal damnation. Like the Israelites in exile, they will have plenty of time to rue over their decision to reject Christ but that regret won’t have an expiration date. It will be an eternal pondering in Hell.

This is the sorrow Paul wanted the Corinthians to avoid. He wished for all to have everlasting life and devoted his life to that cause. He never shied away from writing words of conviction and calling out sin because he knew salvation could always be the end result of sorrow turned godly.

I don’t know about you but God’s word convicts me of something every time I read it. I am reminded just I am far from perfect and a work in progress as the Lord continues to shape me into the man He wants me to be. In my life, there are times of spiritual joy when I know I am hitting God’s mark in the way I live but then there are those times when my flaws are exposed and laid bare. I rejoice in both of these and the work the Lord is doing in and through me. I pray He is doing the same in your life.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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