Godly Sorrow
“And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. Then he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ” So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.”
I Kings 20:41-43
Ahab is considered the most wicked King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel while Manasseh is considered the most wicked king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Ahab's reign is tragic in that God repeatedly sent prophets to this wicked King to enable him to have significant military victories, miraculous rain to end three years of drought, prophetic guidance along with multiple opportunities to repent. All these outpourings of grace never had a lasting influence. One of the reasons Ahab grew to be so wicked was all the Lord's corrections were met with worldly sorrow not godly sorrow.
The Apostle Paul gives the distinction between these two types of sorrow "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter." (2 Cor 7:10-11). The Bible is clear that there is a sorrowful emotional response in both cases but only godly sorrow produces a vehement public desire to see justice done. In other words, tears and sorrow are not enough, godly sorrow produces swift action that cares only that the sin is put right and cares little for decorum and reputation. Ahab was known for his sulky, sullen response when corrected or rebuffed (1 Kings 20:43, 1 Kings 21:4). Worldly sorrow is focused on the painful natural consequences of lost resources or diminished prospects while godly sorrow is focused on the painful spiritual consequences of a damaged relationship with the Lord and His people.
Worldly sorrow produces slow spiritual death while godly sorrow produces growing spiritual life from the very same misdeeds. Ahab was trapped in a downward spiral leading to death because he reacted to every God-given opportunity to repent with lots of emotion but not lots of godly action. May the Lord give us a tender heart that is eager to see His justice done in everything we do today.
I Kings 20:41-43
Ahab is considered the most wicked King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel while Manasseh is considered the most wicked king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Ahab's reign is tragic in that God repeatedly sent prophets to this wicked King to enable him to have significant military victories, miraculous rain to end three years of drought, prophetic guidance along with multiple opportunities to repent. All these outpourings of grace never had a lasting influence. One of the reasons Ahab grew to be so wicked was all the Lord's corrections were met with worldly sorrow not godly sorrow.
The Apostle Paul gives the distinction between these two types of sorrow "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter." (2 Cor 7:10-11). The Bible is clear that there is a sorrowful emotional response in both cases but only godly sorrow produces a vehement public desire to see justice done. In other words, tears and sorrow are not enough, godly sorrow produces swift action that cares only that the sin is put right and cares little for decorum and reputation. Ahab was known for his sulky, sullen response when corrected or rebuffed (1 Kings 20:43, 1 Kings 21:4). Worldly sorrow is focused on the painful natural consequences of lost resources or diminished prospects while godly sorrow is focused on the painful spiritual consequences of a damaged relationship with the Lord and His people.
Worldly sorrow produces slow spiritual death while godly sorrow produces growing spiritual life from the very same misdeeds. Ahab was trapped in a downward spiral leading to death because he reacted to every God-given opportunity to repent with lots of emotion but not lots of godly action. May the Lord give us a tender heart that is eager to see His justice done in everything we do today.