August 13th - Mourning and Mercy

Mourning and Mercy

(Jeremiah 50:1-40; 51:59)

Godly Sorrow

Artist Unknown

Jehovah God revealed to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah how He would allow the Babylonians to capture His people. He permitted His children to be taken to exile for many years, suffering mistreatment and displacement.

Eventually, God’s people would cry out to Him for deliverance from their bondage to sin and to the Babylonians.

"In those days, at that time,"
declares the Lord,
"the people of Israel and the people of Judah together
will go in tears to seek the Lord their God.

They will ask the way to Zion
and turn their faces toward it.
They will come and bind themselves to the Lord
in an everlasting covenant
that will not be forgotten.”

(Isaiah 50:4-5, NIV)

The Lord promised to reunite the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah into one united nation under God. He declared that His children would be overcome with sorrow over their own rebellion and seek to return to Him.

Hasn’t this pattern persisted throughout human history? How often has mankind wavered between faithfulness and faithlessness?

When the Lord returns with His glorious kingdom, will He not unite His faithful ones? He promises to join both Jews and Gentiles, males and females, and followers from every nation in the fulfillment of His glorious covenant.

What is the key to the kingdom?

Could the secret to salvation be sorrow over sin? Might we have to begin with tears, if we are to realize true triumph? Doesn’t mourning usher in the miraculous?

Will you pray with me?

Mighty Master,

Your Name is One.

You created mankind

For community

With You

And with one another.

Make us mindful

Of Your desire

To make us one.

We eagerly await

The fulfillment of Your kingdom

On earth

As it is in Heaven.

Use us

In Your plan

To bring Your kingdom

To pass.

Break our hearts

Over our sin,

So that You

May plant new hearts

Within us

To love You more.

Amen.