Sorrow for Sin

Sin brings shame. When we no longer feel guilt or shame for sin, something is amiss in our hearts.

We should be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

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. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:John 16:7-8

Sometimes we must be confronted with our sin.

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.2 Samuel 12:13

When we talk of our sin as “shortcomings”, “failures” or “bad habits” we mischaracterize our sin and fail to see it as an affront against a holy God.

Old Testament Sorrow for Sin

Tearing of clothes “Tearing the clothes is a symbol of the inward anguish the mourner is feeling, a violent expression of emotional pain, an outward sign to others that the person is suffering great inner turmoil. In moments of great anguish, the grief-stricken person might tear whatever clothing they were wearing.”

Fate of Joseph

And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.Genesis 37:31-34

Death of Saul

He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:2 Samuel 1:9-11

Wearing of sackcloth “Sackcloth was cloth made from goat’s hair, hemp, cotton or flax and weaved like burlap. These were worn as a sign of mourning or penitence.”

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.Jonah 3:5-6

So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.1 Chronicles 21:14-16

Ashes placed on head “Ashes were placed on the head of the mourner in an outward, public act of shame, disgrace and dishonor.”

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;Esther 4:1

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:Daniel 9:3

Being comfortable with sin shows a lack of spiritual maturity and a lack of understanding of God’s character.

What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.Romans 6:21-22

A flippant attitude toward sin shows a cheapening of the grace of God and a degradation of the sacrifice of Jesus.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.Romans 5:6

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Romans 5:20-6:2

Our pleasure in sin is commanded to be turned to a mourning for our sin.

This is a weighty understanding of the depravity of our heart and a disgust for our sin.

This guilt, shame and mourning must not be persistent, but confessed to God. Psalm 51

Our joy is restored through repentance.

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;Psalm 30:11

No one lived in sackcloth and ashes. We should not live in shame or guilt. Self-forgiveness isn’t a biblical thing.

Jesus bore our shame, disgrace and dishonor and it has been defeated.

Sin only steals your joy when you stay stuck.