DCLM Daily Manna Thursday 8 December 2022

TOPIC Show Godly Sorrow

Text: Lamentation 5:7-22

KEY VERSE
“Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.”.

DCLM Daily Manna Thursday 8 December 2022 OUTLINE

At the breach of God’s law a triangular line is drawn. The first stroke represents the transgression. Next is another stroke symbolising the punishment for sin. A third line comes up at the bottom to complete the triangle, standing for man’s reaction to the second line. How does the punished person respond? Is the sinner accepting guilt and showing godly sorrow? Or is it a litany of lamentation and accusations against heaven?

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Judah suffered the penalty of captivity in Babylon following their idolatrous practices that contravened the commandments of the Lord. The story of the untold misery they experienced as the Chaldean invaders overwhelmed and razed Jerusalem, and took away the descendants of Jacob is vividly captured in the book of Lamentations by Jeremiah the prophet. He speaks of “terrible famine” and “the mountain of Zion, which is desolate.”

However, it is not all a narrative of complaints about the sorrow that befell the people of Judah. There is the more important step of realisation of the merciful Lord who forgives when the remorseful sinner runs to Him. He is the Lord who “remainest forever…from generation to generation.” There is a repentant plea to Him, “Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.”

God indeed answered the supplication of the Jews as He raised up the Medo-Persian Empire against their Babylonian captors. They were delivered back to their homeland. He did not utterly reject His people. Today, the Lord is watching out for those who, after going astray, would humbly retrace their steps into His waiting arms like the prodigal son.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Godly sorrow cancels the misery sin brings.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 26-29