What is it that catches God's attention? There is a passage in Ezekiel 9 that takes place just before the people of God are about to be exiled because of their sin. God is telling the people of Israel that He is about to bring judgment upon Jerusalem. He announces that He will send angels to destroy the city. But before they do, He gives them a specific instruction: Put a mark on certain people and pass over them, much like what happened during the Exodus. And who are the people He marks?
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” (Ezekiel 9:4, NIV)
Imagine that. God looks at the city and is deeply grieved by the sin taking place within it. And He tells His messengers to put a mark on the foreheads of those who are weeping and mourning over what is happening. These are people who have a groan in their spirit, a sigh in their hearts. They are saying, in effect, “God, I know what You hate, and I hate this too.”
You know that song that says, “Break my heart for what breaks Yours”?
That should be our prayer. Now, this isn't primarily about going out and judging the world, although we certainly should be broken over the sin we see in the world. What I'm saying is that an even deeper brokenness should exist within the hearts of the people of God.
Is that us? Is that you?
Do you have remorse over your own sin?
This is heavy.
Honestly, I don't know when the last time was that I was truly broken over my own sin or the sin of my people.
There have been times in the past when I have been deeply grieved over my sin. Tears have come to my eyes as I've considered how I have sinned against a holy God. It wasn't comfortable, but it was good.
Godly sorrow is good.
In fact, I'd argue that it is a gift from God.
A MIRACLE, even!
If I asked you to name a miracle recorded in Scripture, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Perhaps the blind receiving sight or the dead coming back to life.
But here in this passage, we are reminded that there is another miracle we ought to seek from God—a miracle that only He can give: the miracle of godly sorrow.
It is the kind of sorrow that causes us to stop making excuses, stop pointing fingers, and take responsibility for our own sin. It is the kind of sorrow that moves us beyond simply recognizing what is wrong around us to honestly acknowledging what is wrong within us.
So let me ask you:
Does your sin bother you?
Does it bring you sorrow?
Are you grieved by the things that grieve God?
We spend a lot of time thinking about what is wrong with the world, what is wrong with the church, and what is wrong with other people. But perhaps one of the most important questions we need to ask is much more personal:
What is wrong with me?
May God give us hearts that are tender toward Him, eyes that see our sin clearly, and the humility to take responsibility for it.
