DRAWING NEAR
April 5
Dealing with Sorrow
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"(Matt.
5:4).
Most people in our society have an amusement-park mentality. They
spend much of their time and money on entertainment, wanting to enjoy
life and avoid problems whenever possible. To them, Matthew 5:4 is a
paradox. How can someone who mourns be happy? The answer lies in the
difference between godly sorrow and human sorrow. Godly sorrow is
sorrow over sin; human sorrow is sorrow over some tragic or
disappointing turn of events (2 Cor. 7:8-11).
In Matthew 5:4 Jesus is referring to godly sorrow, which is our topic
for tomorrow. But we all face human sorrow, so I want to discuss it
briefly today.
Human sorrow is a natural emotion. Our Lord Himself was "a man of
sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isa. 53:3). Many things can
cause it: we might mourn out of love, disappointment, loneliness, or
physical illness. There is nothing wrong with that kind of mourning.
It is a God-given relief valve for the pain and sorrow in this
fallen world, and promotes the healing process.
Scripture gives many examples of human sorrow. Abraham wept when his
wife, Sarah, died (Gen. 23:2). Through tears Jeremiah preached God's
message of judgment (Jer. 9:1). Paul expressed his concern for the
church with his tears (Acts 20:31). Those are natural, healthy
expressions of human sorrow.
However, sorrow can also be caused by evil desires or a lack of trust
in God. King Ahab mourned to the point of sulking and not eating when
he couldn't have another man's property (1 Kings 21:4). Some
Christians mourn excessively when they lose a loved one. Forsaking
the comfort of the Spirit, they focus only on their own grief.
Extreme or prolonged manifestations of sorrow are sinful and must be
confessed rather than comforted.
God is gracious to His children amid times of human sorrow.
Ultimately He will do away with mourning and pain forever (Rev.
21:4). Rejoice in that promise and be comforted by His wonderful
grace!
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the ministry of the Spirit, who is the great Comforter
or Helper (John 14:16-17). When sorrow occurs, lean on the Spirit,
feed your soul on God's Word, and commune with Him in prayer.
For Further Study:
Read Psalm 55. How did David express his desire to escape his
difficult situation? What was his final resolve?
Drawing Near, Copyright c 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 (NKJV)
8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it;
though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you
sorry, though only for a while.
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow
led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that
you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to
be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11 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.
Genesis 23:2
2 So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of
Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
Jeremiah 9:1
9:1 Oh, that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my
people!
Acts 20:31
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not
cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
1 Kings 21:4
4 So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the
word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said,
"I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down
on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.
Revelation 21:4
4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be
no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain,
for the former things have passed away."
John 14:16-17
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper,
that He may abide with you forever;
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it
neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with
you and will be in you.
Psalm 55
55:1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my
supplication.
2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan
noisily,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of
the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they
hate me.
4 My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death
have fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has
overwhelmed me.
6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and
be at rest.
7 Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness.
Selah
8 I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest."
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, For I have seen
violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls; Iniquity and
trouble are also in the midst of it.
11 Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart
from its streets.
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I
could hide from him.
13 But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in
the throng.
15 Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For
wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
16 As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And
He shall hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against
me, For there were many against me.
19 God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old.
Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with
him; He has broken his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in
his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn
swords.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall
never permit the righteous to be moved.
23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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