READING: Jeremiah 39:11-18, Jeremiah 40:1-6, 2 Kings 25:8-21, Jeremiah 52:12-27, 2 Chronicles 36:15-21, Lamentations 1:1-22
In some ways, I wish I had read Lamentations 1:18 (the words of Jerusalem under judgment) many years ago when I was a new believer. Here is that text in several versions:
- “The LORD is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command.” (NIV)
- “The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word.” (ESV)
- “The Lord is in the right, for I have rebelled against His command.” (CSB)
I wish I had read the text back then because I think I had a faulty sense of confession and repentance. I knew I was wrong when I sinned, so I asked God’s forgiveness. In that sense, I would have quickly said, “I have rebelled.” I’m not sure, though, that I always saw my rebellion against the Lord’s command—and I seldom thought about God in His righteousness also being right had He chosen to bring judgment on me. I wanted to get rid of my guilt, but I’m not sure I focused much on the righteous holiness of God.
That’s what real repentance should say: “God, You are right,” as well as, “God, I’m a rebel against You.” The former recognizes the perfection and holiness of God in carrying out His judgment, and the latter expresses our responsibility and confesses our wrong in light of that perfection. One without the other may well be incomplete repentance.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Have you struggled in repenting from any particular sins?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, You are righteous. You are right. I am a rebel.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Lamentations 2:1-4:22
