During our initial study of the book of Judges, we spent a little bit of time reflecting on the subject of repentance.  The people of Israel in the opening of Judges 2 appear to be broken, but as Sir Richard Baker once said, “Other things may be worse for breaking, yet a heart is never at the best until it is broken.”  A true brokenness, which may even include weeping, may very well be a part of godly grief when considering one’s sins.  The people of Israel wept in Judges 2:4, but we know from 2 Corinthians 7:10 that godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

True repentance, as our church’s statement of faith affirms, is a saving grace, but it is also a sacred duty. It occurs where there has been a conquest of the heart by the Holy Spirit. It consists of a true sense of our sin, and it consists of an understanding that we have offended God. It consists of understanding that we have rebelled against him and disobeyed him. It consists of knowing that we have decided to live our own way rather than his. True repentance also consists of a turning away from our sin, of purposing not to partake in it any more. But that is not all true repentance consists of. Yes, true repentance consists of turning away from sin, but it also consists of turning to Jesus Christ, and placing our faith in his sacrifice on our behalf. This is how God’s kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). If you have been moved to repentance, then you must have been moved by God’s mercy. And if you know you should be moved to repent, then be sure you move toward God’s mercy.