Sorrow

How great is my sorrow and need—first over my defeats, and then over my own nature? In Ps. 34:18, David writes that God is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a contrite spirit.

So God has decided to remain close to those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. This must mean that it pleases God to be near those who are in such a state.

Sigurd Bratlie writes in the book The Bride and the Harlot: “It quickly becomes apparent that the new converts have much to fight against when it concerns habits and temptations, and they suffer many defeats—they still do things that belong to their old life. This is equally true for all of them, but not all of them are equally grieved over their defeats. Some react more superficially than others.”

Johan Oscar Smith therefore wrote in 1909: “Something more is called for than an afternoon’s passing regret about something or other that didn’t go according to plan.”

So there must be a deep longing to be reconciled with God, and then to be saved by the life of Jesus. We partake of reconciliation when our need over our defeats is so great that we come to Christ and ask to be reconciled through His death. Then we receive forgiveness for our sins. This is a glorious liberation. But this is when salvation by His life also begins. The sorrow and need must be just as great here, so that my nature and tendencies are cleansed out, and so that the divine life, which I have been called to, can begin to manifest itself in my conduct in daily life.

In 2 Cor. 7:8-11, Paul writes about a “godly sorrow”—a sorrow that produces repentance, indignation, fear, vehement desire, and zeal. A true sorrow produces this. When I see the deeds of the body in my service, then I need more than an “afternoon’s passing regret.” Then I must have this contrite heart and this broken spirit, so that a zeal is awakened against those tendencies—hardness, lack of love, etc.—that the Spirit shows me. If I abide in this work, I will become more and more like my Master.

In Isa. 57:15, God says that He dwells with those who have a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite. So there is a tremendous hope for those who mourn in Zion, namely that God will create something new, that His virtues and life can become a part of us.

May we run in this race as though only one receives the prize, so that we can be to the honor of our firstborn brother and forerunner, Jesus Christ.