Sin makes a mess of our lives. And many times we are miserable about the consequences of our sinful choices: a broken relationship, financial cost, punishment for bad behavior, loss of respect. But sorrow over consequences isn’t necessarily godly sorrow.
Worldly sorrow may involve emotional distress, fear, anger, and even self-abasement. But its goal is the removal of consequences. Just as it did with Saul in today’s reading, it can, actually, lead to disqualification instead of restoration.
Godly sorrow, on the other hand, involves genuine repentance (brokenness over our sin against God) and leads to a changed life. So, how can we know the difference?
Today’s Readings:
1 Samuel 14 & 15
Psalm 57.1-3
Proverbs 15.24-25
Luke 23.1-25
Is It Godly Sorrow or Worldly Sorrow?
1 Samuel 14 & 15:
Downhill Fast
Things are going downhill fast for Israel’s newly chosen king.
God had judged the Amalekites for years of sin and idolatry (1 Sam. 15.1-3). So King Saul was commanded to utterly destroy them and their property.
God was giving Saul another opportunity to prove his obedience. Check out yesterday’s post if you missed the first one.
But again, instead of humbly obeying, Saul decided to do what seemed right to him.
7 And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed (1 Sam. 15.7-9).
And after disobeying God’s direct command, notice the first thing he did and how he greeted Samuel.
“I Have Performed the Commandment of the LORD”
The first thing Saul did after his victory, was to set up a monument to himself. Because he had obeyed part of what God said, he thought that was good enough!
12 So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal.”
13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, ‘Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.’
Proverbs tells us:
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts (Prov. 21.2).
“The Lord weighs the hearts.” God always knows our motives and He knew Saul’s, too. And look at his response when Samuel confronted him for his disobedience.
“What Then Is This Bleating of Sheep?”
14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
15 And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”
And in verse 21:
21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
The “people” did it! He immediately began blameshifting! Then he made excuses by trying to say he took the forbidden spoil so he could sacrifice it to God. And when he realized Samuel wasn’t buying it, instead of repenting, he only wanted to save face with the people:
30 Then he said, ‘I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.’
Godly Sorrow or Worldly Sorrow?
The question for us is how will we respond when we fall? With brokenness because we realize we’ve sinned against a righteous and holy God? Or with worldly sorrow like Saul?
Worldly sorrow is, merely, sorrow over the consequences of sin like a child who has been grounded for breaking curfew. He begs to be let out of the consequences, swearing to never do it again. But he lacks any brokenness over sin or change of heart.
Godly sorrow brings genuine repentance (brokenness over sin) which leads to a change of attitude and a change of behavior.
Worldly sorrow causes us to want to save face like Saul and avoid the consequences. Genuine repentance is less concerned with the consequences and, instead, concerned with God’s glory. May we cultivate a hatred of our own sin and a willingness to ask God to grant us genuine repentance.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 57.1-3:
The Only Sure Refuge
Verse 1 includes the phrase, “in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge.” The only sure refuge, the one that never fails is God Himself. Economies may fail and governments may rise and fall. Nothing is a sure thing—not our money, not our jobs, not our youth, not our health, not our families—only God and God alone!
Proverbs 15.24-25:
Upward Path or Downward Spiral?
Verse 24 begins:
The way of life winds upward for the wise …
We have a choice of whether to be on the narrow path that winds upward or the downward spiral that can swiftly take us down to destruction and heartache.
Luke 23.1-25:
Today is the Day of Salvation!
Jesus had been arrested. In today’s reading, He was brought before Pilate who sent Him to Herod. But when Jesus wouldn’t “perform” for him (he hoped to see him do a miracle), he mocked Him and sent Him back to Pilate.
As John MacArthur pointed out, the only one who interrogated Jesus to whom he didn’t even respond was Herod. Herod had rejected the truth from John the Baptist and he wouldn’t have another opportunity. Hebrews 3.15, quoting an Old Testament passage says:
Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.
If you don’t know Jesus personally as Lord and Savior, today is the day of salvation. You may not have another chance.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about one cause of paranoia, how to respond to instruction, what to do to be used by God, and the homework God gives.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our new sister site Joyful Marriage Ministries. While you’re there, click the “events” tab for information on our upcoming marriage retreat.
And if this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
I recently read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.
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