Knowing the Difference
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB
Sorrow – If you don’t know the difference, you could die! Remember those warning posters about pills. The picture shows lots of little pills in various colors. Some are good for you. Some will kill you. But you can’t tell the difference by just looking at them. You have to know what they are made of. The same is true of the word lype (sorrow). According to Paul, there are two kinds of sorrow pills. One brings deliverance; the other brings death. It’s very important to know the difference.
The NASB glosses the text, translating kata theon as “according to the will of God,” but that adds “the will of” to the text. Kata theon is simply “according to God.” You might say that these two are the same, but if they are, why add the extras? When Paul says, “according to God,” what kind of sorrow could that be? We don’t have to look very far to find the answer. Paul is a man of the Tanakh, so his thoughts about sorrow will come from Scripture. In Hebrew, the word would be mar, the word for bitterness in the test described in Numbers 5 and a close link to the event at Marah (Exodus 15). You can find the translation of mar into lype in the LXX at Proverbs 31:6, a comment about the power of wine to relieve the sorrows of life (at least temporarily). The Exodus passage holds the key. Marah was a sad day in the history of Israel, a day of grumbling against God in spite of His demonstrable rescue. Moses cried out again and God provided again, but the people set the tone for their next forty years. Bitterness toward their circumstances was really resentment toward God. They often repented but never changed their minds. This kind of sorrow is guilt at being exposed. It is contrition without lasting consideration. This is sorrow that feels bad now but has amnesia in the morning. It is exactly the opposite of sorrow the produces repentance with regret.
Godly sorrow (as the King James puts it) is turning away from what displeases the Lord, not simply because of guilt but because of genuine mourning over disgracing and dishonoring God. Sorrow that leads to true repentance contains a poison pill, a pill that makes us violently ill if we should once again consider those acts that slandered the lover of our souls. True repentance always has God’s reputation in mind. At Marah, Israel debased God, maligning His goodness with their complaints. They did not recognize His mercy, His rescue or His care, and therefore they continued to abuse His patience. Paul tells us flatly, “This kind of sorrow leads to death.” It may be genuine unhappiness but it is adversity that is adversarial to God. When we allow sorrow, misery, unhappiness or despair to become the avenues for korban, we will discover our heartaches are the way of deliverance.
Topical Index: sorrow, lype, mar, Marah, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Exodus 15, Proverbs 31:6
“And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.”—Exodus 15:23-25.
The tree was a type. A shadow of another Tree. There is always a message under every miracle. The LORD showed Moses a tree. And according to the instructions, and in obedience to the word(s) of Elohim, the right-response of Moses was to do as G-d requested and cast the tree into the bitter waters and the formerly bitter waters were made sweet.
Life now is sweet and my joy is complete, for I’m saved, saved- saved! When poor and needy and all alone, in love He came to me.. “come unto Me and I’ll bring you home- to live with Me eternally!
What tree was this that Moses cast into the bitter waters? Could it be the cross of the crucified ONE?
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. -And let us run with endurance the race G-d has set before us. And let us (ever) look (a fixed,intentional focus) unto Yeshua, Him who is The Author and The Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was His, endured the cross and ignored the shame, and He (now) sits upon the right side of the throne of G-d.
“After” you have suffered awhile…- make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.. (there is an “after!”)
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my Light, my Strength, my Song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of G-d was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Though by sin oppressed- go to Him for rest.. Our G-d is Able to deliver thee.. “When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living G-d, has your G-d, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel 6.20)
Do you know the “rest of the story?” – There is, according to the word(s) of G-d, “a rest that remains to the people of G-d..” Our G-d is (always) Able.
CARL, YOU OFTEN WRITE SO MUCH MATERIAL THAT I MUST SPEND = TIME STUDYING SKIPS AND YOURS–AND IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT FOR ME TO RESPOND AS I GET OVERWHELMED WITH WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT ; THEREFORE WITH LIMITED TIME, AND SLOWER THOUGHTS IN OLDER YEARS, I SIMPLY GIVE UP AND WRITE NOTHING. HOWEVER; TODAY, I WILL COMMENT TO YOUR PARAGRAPH 3, WHICH IS HEBREWS 12. HOW I LOVE AND HAVE SPENT TIME IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS–AWESOME MATERIAL THERE.
YEARS AGO, ABOUT 40, I STARTED A LONG TIME STUDY ON “JOY” IN BOTH COVENANATS –( ACTUALLY I HAVE NEVER TOTALLY LEFT THE STUDY). BUT IN HEBREWS 12 VERSE 2, IN A PARAPHRASE BIBLE, THESE WORDS HAVE BLESSED ME OVER AND OVER, AND GIVEN TO ME ALONG WITH MANY OTHER HOLY WRITTEN WORDS, SUCH JOY, HOPE, OVERCOMING IN SO MANY AREAS.
” KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS, OUR LEADER, INSTRUCTOR. HE WAS WILLING TO DIE A SHAMEFUL DEATH ON THE CROSS BECAUSE OF THE –JOY– HE KNEW WOULD BE HIS AFTERWARDS; AND NOW HE SITS IN THE PLACE OF HONOR BY THE THRONE OF GOD. V.2 IF YOU WANT TO KEEP FROM BEING FAINTHEARTED AND WEARY, THINK ABOUT HIS PATIENCE AS SINFUL MEN DID SUCH TERRIBLE THINGS TO HIM.V.4— HOPE EVERYONE WILL CONTINUE READING THE REST OF CHAPTER 12—- SUCH PRACTICAL , HELPFUL WISDOM!!! WITH GOD’S BLESSINGS IN THEIR FULLEST MEANINGS I ASK NOW FOR ALL WHO READ AND STUDY GOD’S WORD.–
-TODAY’S SKIP PERMITS US TO SHOUT!!!! SO YEA, L.B.
SORRY SKIP, IT WAS YESTERDAY’S TODAY’S WORD YOU GAVE US PERMISSION FOR EMOTIONS– NOT TODAY’S————AND THAT IS MUCH NEEDED FOR LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE– INCLUDING EMOTIONS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ANGER—-APPRECIATE YOUR WEB SITE! L.B.
And he cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.”—Exodus 15:23-25.
And so Moses appealed to Yahweh, and Yahweh pointed out some wood to him; this Moses threw into the water, and the water was sweetened – Exodus 15:23-25. The Jerusalem Bible, ie the one I read 🙂
Hi Carl,
With all due respect, i’m sure your Bible is good and true, but it is not as beautifully written as mine 🙂
“True repentance always has God’s reputation in mind.” O how true. This sets the tone for a person’s come back; coming back to the ways of the LORD.
Here’s a song about “coming back.”
Mandisa “Waiting for Tomorrow”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ezrFxWjyZQ
Here is the chorus to that song:
Can’t live my whole life wastin’
All the grace that I know You’ve given
‘Cause You me made for so much more than
Sittin’ on the side lines
I don’t wanna look back and wonder
If good enough could’ve been better
Everyday’s a day that’s borrowed
So, why am I waiting for tomorrow?
Why am I waiting for tomorrow?
and in reply to this, Cyndee, – G-d’s (living) Word says: For He (has) said, “I have answered you in an acceptable time and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, NOW is the acceptable time, and behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6.2)
this also from Madisa (I, too, am a fan)
Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain’t right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you’re asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather
Oh, don’t hang your head
It’s gonna end
God’s right there
Even if it’s hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares
When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain’t gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you …
Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it’s gonna end
God’s right there
Even when you just can’t feel Him
I promise you that He still cares
‘Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1.6)
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I’m sure that He’s gonna help you get through this
When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain’t gonna last forever
In time it’s gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
“Growing pains..” or has been said and is well-known at the gym,- “no pain,-no gain”
I love that song too! I had considered including that so I’m glad you did. 😀
“Stronger” by Mandisa
Here is the link for others to hear and see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3TPq8ZSvTk
CYndee,
that’s a good one – shared it on my FB site… jan
Skip: “When we allow sorrow, misery, unhappiness or despair to become the avenues for korban, we will discover our heartaches are the way of deliverance.”
That is so true.
“Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3)
-What if?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0