Humble Repentance

And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. Matthew 11:23

D.L. MOODY
A man said to me some time ago: “Don’t you think David fell as low as Saul?”
Yes, he fell lower because God had lifted him up higher. The difference is that when Saul fell, there was no sign of repentance; but when David fell, a wail went up from his broken heart, there was true repentance.

ERWIN LUTZER
Why did David have to endure twelve years of harassment from Saul, the spear thrower? God wanted to take all of the “Saul” out of David’s heart. If God had only exalted David, he would have become another King Saul. Saul was too proud to fall helplessly in God’s presence, saying, “Oh God, extinguish this flame of resentment and jealousy. Don’t let me go till my heart is pure.” He wasn’t willing. Yes Saul “repented” five times (1 Samuel 13:11–12; 15:24–25, 30; 24:16–21; 26:21). He would say, “I’ve
played the fool; I have erred exceedingly,” but then continued the way he was living. Like an alcoholic or sex addict, his repentance was just another form of manipulation.
While Saul was manipulative, David trusted God. He trusted that Israel was God’s kingdom and God could give it to whomsoever He wanted. Rather than throwing the spear back at Saul in vengeance, David didn’t, and instead affirmed God would execute vengeance. Even after David’s greatest failure, his repentance before God was different. It was a thorough, complete repentance. True repentance is a humble submission to God’s will and His way.

PRAYER
Father, I surrender my kingdom, submitting to your Spirit’s mighty work in me.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What Is the pattern of your repentance? Is it thorough and submissive?

 What is God teaching you about being humble and contrite of heart?