The Goodness of Sorrowful Repentance

The prophet Jeremiah declares that God’s goodness is new every day (Lamentations 3:22–23). One example of this goodness is God’s reckoning for sin (vv. 25–39). So, he exhorts his people: “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!” (v. 40). Such resolve requires an obedient act of faith, for repentance rarely feels like something good. The sinner’s return then produces both a changed heart and changed behavior: “Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven” (v. 41). As even our posture in prayerful repentance reflects a humble reliance on the Lord (Psalms 86:4–5; 139:23–24).

The prophet makes heartfelt confession for his people’s sin, using plural pronouns to identify with them collectively: “We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven” (Lamentations 3:42). Sorrowful repentance rightly recognizes guilt before the Lord (e.g., Nehemiah 1:6–7; Daniel 9:5–19; Romans 3:10–12).

After Jerusalem was destroyed, Jeremiah could well have said, “I told you so. You should have listened.” This godly man had preached repentance for forty years, though no one paid attention. Yet instead of condemning his people, he now confesses sin on their behalf and cries to God for mercy: “You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us, killing without pity; you have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through” (Lamentations 3:43–44; see Jeremiah 15:1–9). Yahweh has turned against his people and refuses to hear their prayers. He has given them over to be shamed by enemies: “You have made us scum and garbage among the peoples. All our enemies open their mouths against us; panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction” (Lamentations 3:45–47; see Deuteronomy 28:37; Nahum 3:6).

So, the prophet weeps with sorrowful repentance: “My eyes flow with rivers of tears because of the destruction of the daughter of my people. My eyes will flow without ceasing, without respite, until the LORD from heaven looks down and sees; my eyes cause me grief at the fate of all the daughters of my city” (Lamentations 3:48–51). He won’t stop interceding for his people until the Lord looks down and sees them—until the Lord frees them from their pain (2:11, 18; Jeremiah 9:1; 13:17).

This hope-filled word, “until,” uplifts the prophet’s prayer with faith. It means there is an end to sorrow, though now he mourns, “I have been hunted like a bird by those who were my enemies without cause; they flung me alive into the pit and cast stones on me; water closed over my head; I said, 'I am lost'” (Lamentations 3:52–54; Psalm 69:1–4). He feels buried by his grief and left for dead. So, he returns to the only refuge he has ever known: “I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, 'Do not close your ear to my cry for help!'” (Lamentations 3:55–56; Jeremiah 38:4–13; Psalm 69:13–15).

Mankind can never escape this pit of sin’s consequences by human effort alone, for our society will never fix itself. Yet still, God’s promises endure forever: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). This everyday mercy of forgiveness comes only through Christ’s sacrifice when he bore God’s wrath upon himself. For like Jerusalem of old, Jesus was pursued by enemies and struck down without mercy. He was rejected as scum and garbage among the peoples. He was mocked and spit upon.

As he hung upon that cross, he cried, “My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me? Why won’t you listen to my prayers?” He wept great tears on our behalf and cried out, “Father, please forgive them!” His physical body was destroyed and, for three days, cast into a pit with a boulder rolled in front (Matthew 27:59–60). Christ died, so we might live (2 Corinthians 5:21). His monumental sacrifice made payment for the Father’s mercy. Then, three days later, Christ escaped that dreaded pit to claim the victory over death.

To receive God’s everyday forgiveness, we must practice everyday repentance. So, let’s examine our hearts, our thoughts, and actions for anything which does not honor Christ—any sin which grieves his soul. Each day, we bring our offerings to the Lord and “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Consider the following characteristics of repentance:

• True repentance follows faith over feelings.

• True repentance involves both heart and hands.

• True repentance reflects our humble reliance in prayer.

• True repentance rightly recognizes our guilt for sin.

• True repentance expresses godly sorrow, not mere remorse.

• True repentance cries out to a forgiving God for mercy.

• True repentance demonstrates persistent hope.

• True repentance trusts in Christ’s redemption.

• True repentance must be a daily practice.

The Goodness of Spiritual Renewal

As sin’s reckoning leads our hearts to sorrowful repentance, we then rejoice in spiritual renewal (Lamentations 3:57–66). Jeremiah testifies that God has answered prayer through the comfort of his presence: “You came near when I called on you; you said, 'Do not fear!'” (v. 57; Jeremiah 30:10; 46:27–28). The Lord acts both as his defense attorney and as his redeemer: “You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life” (Lamentations 3:58; Jeremiah 51:36; e.g., Ruth 4:1–12). Jeremiah also calls on Yahweh to be his star witness: “You have seen the wrong done to me, O LORD; judge my cause. You have seen all their vengeance, all their plots against me. You have heard their taunts, O LORD, all their plots against me.

The lips and thoughts of my assailants are against me all the day long. Behold their sitting and their rising; I am the object of their taunts” (Lamentations 3:59–63). The prophet’s lament repeatedly cries for justice: “You will repay them, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. You will give them dullness of heart; your curse will be on them. You will pursue them in anger and destroy them from under your heavens, O LORD” (vv. 64–66; see Jeremiah 11:20; 12:3; 15:15; 17:18; 18:18–23). For just as Judah was punished for her sin, God would also punish Babylon. God would turn his anger against their foes and direct his wrath against their enemies (see Jeremiah 51:6; Deuteronomy 30:7). He would harden the hearts of those who hardened their hearts against him (e.g., 2:10).

The prophet's prayer is never fully answered in his lifetime. Yet God has since answered by sending his Son into the world. And he continues to pour out his everyday goodness through the person and the work of Christ:

• A Comforter who sees our pain (Hebrews 4:13–16).

• An Advocate who defends us from accusations (1 John 2:1–2).

• A Redeemer who paid our ransom price with his own blood (Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:5–6).

• A Judge who will mercifully declare us righteous on that final day (Acts 10:42).

• An Avenger of our enemies who will not stop until justice has been served (Revelation 6:10).

Our Lord comes near and whispers to us new morning mercies: “Do not be anxious. Do not fear. I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Psalm 145:18; Hebrews 13:5b). For only Christ can turn our sorrows into spiritual renewal. Only Christ can comfort us in suffering with everyday goodness that will last forever.