I’M SORRY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME?

The words usually flowed so easily!  He would sit down to write or compose, strum a few strings on the harp, and immediately the dam would break!  This was easy for David!  He’d been writing poems and songs since he was a young boy watching his father’s sheep.  The loneliness cultivated a quiet, humble attitude.  His voice and playing soothed the sheep.  His repertoire gradually grew to the point that he had songs for nearly every situation. 

Later in life, he was called to the court of King Saul to play comforting songs to ease his troubled mind.  It worked!  Saul was ministered to by David’s constant redirection to God and His faithfulness.  Saul came to love this young man because he was the only one who could calm Saul’s disturbed thinking.

Others came to know David’s songs.  Many of them became a regular part of the worship of the people!  It was an innovation added to the dry forms that had come to characterize worship in Jerusalem with its constant sacrifices and strict observations.  David’s songs were sung from the heart!  The people found themselves singing them in their homes, at their work and as they journeyed.

And now – to top it off – this beloved David had been their king for many years.  His succeeding of King Saul had been easy and natural.  He was beloved by the people!  His exploits and triumphs were legendary!  His reputation began with the killing of Goliath and continued with the radical expansion of his kingdom!  Many nations now paid tribute to David and the Kingdom of Judah,

But today, none of that mattered.  Today, his words didn’t flow.  Today it was as though there was an iron wall between David and Yahweh!  The strumming of the strings produced nothing.  He sat slumped in silence with his mind ruminating on deep, deep regrets. 

He sang several of his old songs, but none of them fit the need for today.  His grief and sorrow was real, but he had no means to express them. 

He was ashamed!  He had done dreadful things.  He had broken the commands of his God.  He had hurt people deeply.  He had betrayed his wives.  He was responsible for the taking of a life!  Oh, it had not been by his hand, but it had been done as a result of his instructions.  And to top it off, this man had been his friend and a respected leader in his army!  In fact, this man had been one of David’s ‘mighty men’; men who were deeply committed to David and his protection! 

It had all begun because David had not gone to battle with his army. This time – getting older – he had stayed home.  Instead of being where he should have been, he couldn’t sleep.  He went to the rooftop on a hot summer night.  He looked down and spotted a woman taking a bath.  He sent for her.  He seduced her.  She was the wife of Uriah, who was away fighting for Israel.  Shortly after, she sent David word that she was pregnant! 

And David’s world crumbled.  

In shame and desperation he set in motion a plan that would lead to Uriah’s death.  And David knew that things would never be the same. 

So here he sat, with nothing to say to the God he had so grossly disappointed and offended.

Till finally after sleepless nights and foodless days he lay in the dark completely defeated.  He woke up cold and wrapped his robe around him.  It was dark.  He hadn’t spoken to anyone for days. 

That’s when he finally found words that matched his desperation, despair and depression.

With tears quietly streaming down his face, he spoke to the One he had defied:

God,

Be merciful to me because You are loving.

Because You are always ready to be merciful, wipe out all my wrongs.

Wash away all my guilt and make me clean again.

 …weeping and sobbing…

 You are the one I have sinned against;

I have done what You say is wrong…

Take away my sin, and I will be clean.

Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

Create in me a pure heart, God,

And make my spirit right again.

 

Do not send me away from You or take Your Holy Spirit away from me.

 

Give me back the joy of Your salvation!

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Be reminded today that there is always a way back into God’s graces!  It involves humbling ourselves and expressing sorrow over our bad choices.  It requires honesty and submission added to a sincere sense of regret! 

But there is a way to be restored!  Don’t delay.  Carry your concerns to God today – right now! 

IMPLICATIONS OF JEREMIAH 4 FOR US TODAY

 Jeremiah 4

This is NOT a happy chapter!

Most people know the chronic pattern we find throughout the Old Testament prophets. In short: the people are fickle and prone to sin and rejecting God. God imposes fearful threats in hopes of getting them to repent and return to His ways. Often, they do repent – sometimes in response to God’s threats, other times after experiencing the wrath of God. But their repentance never seems to last long. Often it is contingent on the faithfulness of the reigning king and his regard for God!

This chapter doesn’t veer from this pattern.

In verses 1-2, God makes a strong appeal for the people to come back to Him: “put away your detested things [idols] from My presence, [NASB] and do not wander away from me anymore [TM].

Then, in verses 3-18, God initiates action against Israel by inciting a northern nation to come against her with incredible destructive power! But in this threat is still God’s appeal in picturesque language: “Plow your unplowed fields, but then don’t plant weeds in the soil! Yes, circumcise your lives for God’s sake, plow your unplowed hearts…Prevent the fire – the fire of my anger – for once it starts it can’t be put out. Your wicked ways are fuel for the fire” [vs.3-4 TM].

Let’s be clear! God wants repentance, obedience, and changed lives!

But the belligerence of the people assures them of impending violence! God – through Jeremiah – warns them to sound the alarm, weep and wail. Their leaders have failed them! The warring hordes have already begun to sweep into the land of Israel! News comes from the north: “Invaders from far off are raising war cries against Judah’s towns. They’re all over her like a dog on a bone. And why? Because she rebelled against me.” GOD’S Decree” [vs.15-17 TM].

Jeremiah then seems to speak the pain of the people! He speaks of his hopelessness! He speaks of;

o PRE-Genesis chaos [v.23 TM] - widespread destruction?

o Not a star to be seen [v.23 TM] - because of the smoke?

o Mountains trembling [v.24 TM]

o No people or birds in sight [v.25 TM] – everyone is dead or has fled!

o All gardens destroyed [raided by the enemy?] [v.26 TM]

o All the towns are ghost towns [v.27 TM] – complete devastation!

Jeremiah describes the terrifying fear of the people who remain! “They hide in ditches, they climb into caves” [v.29 TM].

The chapter ends with a pathetic scene: Jeremiah hears a woman crying out in childbirth [v.31]. She knows she will die – as will her baby!

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What are we – in the 21st century – supposed to take from this?

We live in a time of great division! In the last several years, our confidence in firmly established and long respected governmental structures has been significantly undermined! Our two greatest enemies ally against us! Many doubt the strength and cohesion of our military. We've distributed much of our weaponry and ammunition to a distant war that we are - supposedly - not involved in, Our long, imperial financial leadership shows signs of crumbling. The sacred security of our election process has been fractured! Lying has become the standard operating procedure of our leaders! It seems that many from our younger generations know little or nothing of these realities and don’t seem to care. It’s like they live in a trance!

Christianity is mocked. Churches are in decline! The growth we do see is often simply reshuffling the kingdom of God. The Church is divided by denominationalism and bitterness.

Wow, you’re wondering…did Hal take a negative pill this morning?

No. I’ve read a sobering passage from the Bible and have tried to present it faithfully and honestly. The above description of our culture may be inaccurately described – you be the judge of that. But I think I hear God issuing His final warnings! We dare not be distracted. Why waste time assigning blame?

God’s desire hasn’t changed. In verses 1-2, God makes a strong appeal for the people to come back to Him: “put away your detested things [idols] from My presence, [NASB] and do not wander away from me anymore [TM].

It’s likely that is still His desire for America today! Will we respond?

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BECOME A GOOD REPENTER

I read those words in a book:  Secrets of the Secret Place, by Bob Sorge (recommended to me by Robin McFarren - thank you SO MUCH, Robin). 

Although I've lived immersed in the life of the church for most of my life, I must admit that I've seen very little repentance in the church.  It seems to be something done only at the point of an initial salvation experience. 

But think of it this way:  the closer you get to a holy God, the more you become aware of your imperfections!

If that statement is true (and I believe it is), then the growing believer will find him/herself repenting with ever-increasing frequency. 

Sorge writes: 

"I so very much long to please Him and to know His will, so my spirit diligently searches the recesses of my heart to see if there might be anything in me for which I need to repent."  He adds, "The only way to move forward in God is through repentance."

For those of us who have grown past the blatant, outward sins, we then begin to explore the deeper recesses of our fallen nature.  We move into the realm of thoughts, motives, feelings, responses and desires.  Sins in these areas are far more subtle.  It often takes silence, solitude, and the finger of God to point them out. 

I once heard an evangelist state that he hadn't sinned in seventeen years
...........................................................Liar, liar, pants on fire!

The crafters of the Westminster Confession believed that we sin in thought, word, and deed everyday.  I don't care to debate that here and now, but I do know this:  I am "...prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;  prone to leave the God I love."

I have a sinful nature and I have an enemy of my soul.  These two realities are turning me into A GOOD REPENTER!  How about you?

ADAM AND EVE

They knew something that none of the rest of us have known - a guilt free life!

We can only imagine what that must have been like.  No sin.  No remorse.  No shame.  No regrets. 

A clear conscience is a valuable thing! 

We don't hear it much these days, but when I was growing up in the church people gave testimonies describing what it was like for them to give their life to Christ. 

Over and over you heard things like: 

• "I feel so clean!"
• "It's like a burden has been lifted!"
• "I feel light as a feather!"
• "I'm free!"

In Pilgrim's Progress, at the point of salvation Pilgrim's napsack is released from his shoulders and rolls away from him.

I believe this is the closest we can come to experiencing what Adam and Eve knew.

Unfortunately for us, living in a sinful world causes us to accumulate more sin and guilt and shame. 

We must train ourselves to come regularly to God for forgiveness.  The prayer He taught His disciples was a model for daily prayer that included the words:  (Luke 11:3-4 - NASB)

Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

If we are disciplined in staying close to God, we can enjoy the benefits of living with a clear conscience. 

You ask, "Is this possible?"

In Acts 23:1, the Apostle Paul says,

Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.

So I would say, "Yes, it is possible!"

God didn't love Paul any more than He loves you! 

My Dad used to spend most of his evenings in his bedroom.  He had a nice radio and comfortable chair there and would spend the time listening to WBVP and reading the newspaper.  I would occasionally slip in to talk with him.  I often caught him on his knees at his bedside.  I never heard what he was saying, but I think he was clearing the slate before he went to bed!  Not a bad idea!

CORRUPTION

Psalm 53:2-3 (NASB)
God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God.  Every one of them has turned aside;  together they have become corrupt;  there is no one who does good, not even one.

I read a story this morning about Billy Graham making some anti-Semitic  remarks to President Richard Nixon many years ago.  These remarks were picked up in a recording and reported.  Dr. David McKenna writes:  "One can envision Billy Graham, the North Carolina farm boy, being seduced by the power of the Oval Office and for a moment losing the prophetic voice that would have dared to refute the president of the United States."

However, Graham immediately admitted he was wrong, repented of his words, and asked forgiveness.  In addition, he disciplined himself by limiting the subject of any presidential audience to prayer and spiritual counsel.  A wise decision!

How do you handle the sin that creeps into your life?  We are all sinners.  God struggles to find one of us who is living life His way! 

The real issue seems to be how we handle indiscretions.  Are we quick to repent?  Do we apologize to God and others?  Do we set guards to keep it from happening again? 

These are the actions that lead us to long-term holiness!  That's what I'm seeking - how about you?

MORTALITY

I was called to the bedside of a good friend yesterday.  She is suffering from cancer.  She was surrounded by family and friends who spoke tenderly to her.  They kissed her forehead and caressed are arms and shoulders.  They offered ice chips and cool washcloths.  It was a picture of family love and tenderness!

Early this morning I prayed for my friend and her family. 

Then I prayed for myself.  Someday, I too, will be making the transition from earth to Heaven. 

Like most people, I'm sure I'll struggle to let go of this world and its realities:  family, friends, familiar roles, possessions, memories, etc., etc..

Yet most of us - even secular people - believe that Heaven will far exceed this world.  It will be a better place where we will be free from pain, suffering, tears, stress, and so much more! 

For Christians, we have clear hints of what Heaven will be like from the Bible.  If we have accepted Christ's substitutionary death for our sins, we will be welcomed there!

Being certain of Heaven is as easy as praying:

Dear Jesus,

I acknowledge that I have sinned.

I'm sorry!

Forgive me.

Come and be my Lord!

Help me to live to please You!

Amen.

Bible Study

This should make you think!

Psalm 7:12-16 (NASB)
[Notice:  The NASB capitalizes pronouns that represent God.  I've underlined these cases]
    If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;  He has bent His bow and made it ready.  He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons;  He makes His arrows fiery shafts.
    [The pronouns in the following refer back to "a man who does not repent"]  Behold, he travails with wickedness, and he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.  He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, and has fallen into the hole which he made.  His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own [head].

If I understand this correctly, "If a man does not repent," God turns up the heat on that man in order to show him the need for repentance.  Therefore, God may be the source of pain in the life of an unrepentant believer! 

Oswald Chambers has written:  "Repentance means that I show my sorrow for the wrong thing by becoming the opposite."  In other words we acknowledge that God's way is best and bring ourselves into alignment with His ways!

Need further evidence?  Revelation 3:19  "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;  therefore be zealous and repent.”

Be honest with yourself.  When is the last time you repented of anything?  Are you really living that perfect of a life?  Or is it possible that you've closed your ears to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit?

Leave a comment - I'd love to know what you think of this.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and repent...