We all know what sorrow is, and we also know how hard it is to express it in words. The word used in the Greek literally means sadness, concern, heartache, wretchedness. Every person knows more or less of this grief. If there were no sins, there would be no ills. The world is called a vale of tears, and all people live under the results of sin. All of us, young and old, know what sorrow is. I'm sure there is no one who has never shed a tear.

God's Word teaches us that there are two kinds of sorrow; and also two kinds of outcome. We read in 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.''

Sorrow is not something that comes upon us, but it is an active principle in our life. It does something and it is effectual in our life. We want to con­sider this more closely for our instruc­tion and examination.

What is godly sorrow?

For eighteen months Paul worked in Corinth. Then he went to Ephesus in Asia. There he heard news about the church in Corinth that worried him. Life there had fallen back to the level of heathendom. A sinful course of life was evident. There were divisions, adulteries, and drinking parties. The worst thing was that they continued in sin, and no one objected.

Paul decided to go to Corinth. That visit was a disappointment. It became a sorrowful visit. The people did not break with sin. They did not listen to him. They even doubted his apostleship. He had to leave without having accom­plished anything. But Paul cannot be at rest. He cannot give up on the church. The love of Christ constrains him to lead them in the right track.

He wrote them a letter. That letter is often called a letter of tears. He also sent Titus to Corinth to hear what effect the letter had. Then Paul and Titus met each other in Macedonia, and Titus gave Paul good tidings. With the bless­ing of the Lord, Paul's letter had a good effect. It had wrought a complete change in Corinth. By the grace of God they had turned from the way of sin. Titus told of their desire, mourning, and zeal for Paul. In verse 8 he says, "I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season." And in verse 9 he says, "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repen­tance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.''

Paul speaks here of two kinds of sorrow: godly sorrow, and the sorrow of the world. Some think that godly sorrow is the sorrow that drives man to God. But that definition is too weak. Certainly, it is true that sorrow about sin drives us to the Lord. In the confession of sin that is wrought by the Spirit of God, the heart is poured out at the throne of grace. Then we become peni­tents and mourners at the feet of the Lord. Then we wet His feet with our tears. But that is not all. Godly sorrow is a sorrow according to God, a sorrow that is according to God's will; a sorrow that pleases Him, that He Himself works in the heart by His Word and Spirit.

We read of examples in the life of David. David said in 2 Samuel 12, "I have sinned against the Lord." Also read Psalm 51.

We read about Peter, when he had denied his Master by swearing and cursing, when the Lord looked upon him, he went out and wept bitterly. We think about the publican in Luke 18. He dared not lift his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me, a sinner."

It is a sorrow of heart as a fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit. The dark heart of the sinner is enlightened. The hard heart is broken. The sinner who lived far from God in the enjoyment of sin, now acknowledges his iniquity. He ran on in the way of unrighteousness with his back to God.

But now he has come to a standstill, he has come to himself, and has turned around – toward God. With Ephraim he smites upon the thigh, and says, "I was ashamed and even confounded.'' With the prodigal son he says, "I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son.'' Those are they who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Deeply humbled and chastened, they accuse themselves before the Lord: "Woe is me that I have sinned.'' Such a sorrow comes from God, it is a sorrow after a godly manner, that means, it pleases the Lord – it is a sorrow in the sight of the Lord. He who sorrows over his sins has to do with God. He cannot endure without the Lord. He who rightly knows and confesses his sin, also knows the Lord in His majesty, holiness, righteousness, and goodness.

He not only sorrows over his sins and confesses them, but he also prays for forgiveness and deliverance from the power of sin.

Dear friends, are the penitential psalms in the Word of God not pre­cious to you; do they not express the language of your heart? When we sorrow over our sin against a benefi­cent God, and our heart is broken and humbled in the dust, we are very much ashamed of ourselves. But they are sweet tears, and the places where we shed them are unforgettable places in the life of God's children. For those tears are shed at the throne of grace. Through our tears we see the riches and greatness of God's mercy. And the broken heart rejoices when we may lay all our cares and sorrow at His feet. God's righteousness and holiness oppresses us, but His love draws us to Him. The tears of godly sorrow are gathered in His bottle.

What gave the prodigal son strength to arise and return to his home? The love of his father came to his mind. He recalled the goodness of his father. "How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!" In his heart there lives a quiet hope that, although he has deserved it a thousand times, his Father will not reject him.

A godly sorrow – do you know something of it? It is a sincere sorrow of heart that we have provoked God by our sins. People sometimes mock with the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart. Some think it not necessary to be small before the Lord. They can help themselves. Sometimes they even call it sin and unbelief. Rapidly growing tem­porary faith knows nothing of this fruit of the Holy Spirit. But it is a godly sorrow that deepens spiritual life. Theirs is the comforting promise:

With joy the meek shall see my soul restored,
Your heart shall live, ye saints that seek the Lord;
He helps the needy and regards their cries,
Those in distress the Lord will not despise.

He will turn His hands to the little ones. Their blood, tears and suffering are precious in His sight.

By what means do we recognize godly sorrow? That sorrow is not our purpose in life. We must not lose sight of that fact. People often err here. Our sorrow, misery, lack and tears are not the purpose of our life. It is from all this that we must be delivered. That is often forgotten. Then we find our life in tears, sorrow, lack, and poverty. That cannot be our life. That gives neither rest nor joy.

In verse 9 Paul says, "Now I rejoice not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.'' Godly sorrow is known by its fruit. Godly sorrow does not remain fruitless. It leads to repentance. Confessed sins become assaulted sins. We not only begin to think differently about it, but we also act differently. We cannot continue to live in sin. We hear the prodigal son say, "I will arise and go to my father." The prime question is: What does the sorrow produce? We read in verse 11: "For behold this selfsame thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you." Carefulness means prudence. It is a necessary but also voluntary breaking with sin be­cause of an inner urging. Sin truly becomes sin. Sin is confessed and abandoned. We begin to see and battle sin. A separation takes place. We begin to seek what is good, and ask what the will of God is.

They choose for God and for His justice in spite of themselves. They stand on God's side. They acknowledge that God is holy and just, also when He chastises them for their sin. That is what David said:

My transgressions I confess,
Grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against Thy grace
And provoked Thee to Thy face;
I confess Thy judgment just,
Speechless I Thy mercy trust.

Indignation. It is an inward hating of sin, a loathing of self. Who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death?

Fear. They fear the power of sin and of the devil and they fear for themselves. They dare not trust themselves.

Vehement desire. They do not care for the service of the world and of sin. They long for communion with the Lord, they long for His house, His statutes, and they long for Paul. Formerly they would rather see him go than come, but now they desire his arrival. Those who love God also love the brethren. Godly sorrow causes them to long for the ministry of reconciliation, for the preaching of the crucified Christ.

Zeal and revenge. Sin must be punished. Evil must be destroyed. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men to believe.

Repentance is a turning away from sin, a being delivered out of the power of sin. That is what repentance works. That is the repentance not to be repent­ed of. No man ever repented of being delivered from the clutches of sin. That does not mean that such a one shall never stumble or fall into sin. Paul says, "When I would do good, evil is present with me." Godly sorrow works repen­tance to salvation not to be repented of.

The broken and contrite heart rejoices. The prodigal son comes home. His father awaits him and purifies him. He puts a ring on his finger. He clothes him. The broken communion is restored. His sin is forgiven, and he is washed in the all-cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. All his transgressions are blotted out. God has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither has He seen perverseness in Israel. Salvation is the purpose of the working of the Spirit of God in the heart of the sinner. It is deliverance from the greatest evil and receiving the highest good. Salvation is being brought back into communion with God. There the heart can and will find rest, and a peace that passes all understanding.

We hear singing and dancing in the house when the prodigal son comes home. They began to rejoice and be glad. Who do you think sang the loudest? I think it was he who had been dead and was alive again; it was he who was lost and then was found.

Godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of.

Have you ever been sorrowful in that manner?