Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song. One of the most common traits found among humans is remorse and sorrow over the outcome of their actions. There are few drunkards in the earth that have not wept bitter tears from time to time when sober over the things that they have done when they were under the influence of drink. Those that have beaten their wives, killed someone in a car wreck, or caused their children such pain that they have lost all respect for them have tasted remorse just as much as they have their liquor. When a man has made a bad investment and lost his money, he will usually spend time in great regret at such an outcome. A man who has sown his wild oats and finds himself in a jail cell generally cannot help but regret the state he finds himself in. Even the most hard-hearted of killers will often seek clemency and mercy when he is standing in front of a courtroom judge with the sword of death hanging over his head, and the list goes on and on. So natural repentance is not an unusual thing. Yet this sort of repentance is not to be mistaken for that repentance which Paul says is not to be repented of. It is much easier to find a hundred cases of natural repentance than it is to find even one which is the result of a supernatural work of the Spirit of God in a man. This is why the Lord said, I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. Self-righteous men find little reason for repentance, since they consider that their adherence to religious duties negates any need for repentance. Such was the state of the Pharisees, as they considered themselves to be keepers of the law, taking great pains and manifesting great diligence in adhering to the jot and tittle of the law of Moses. Yet the Lord plainly told them that the publicans and harlots would go into the kingdom of heaven before they would. Many religious men in our day are essentially in the same condition. While they might profess the necessity of repentance, they view it primarily as that which is needed by others, since most are convinced that they have repented and believed and therefore gained a spot in heaven. They see repentance as a single work of the free will of men. They look upon repentance as a bargaining chip with God. Yet this sort of repentance is no different than that of Esau. As we examine the repentance of Esau, we can see a great contrast between what the Scripture describes that Esau and that which the Scripture illustrates as true repentance. Esau was only sorrowful because he realized that he was not going to gain the blessing of his father Isaac. The repentance that he sought was that he desired for his father to change his mind, which ultimately Isaac refused to do. This is why the scripture says that he saw a place of repentance with tears, but he received it not. He did not shed tears over despising this blessing when he had sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup. Rather, he was upset that he would not gain the carnal benefits of his father's blessing. Esau shed tears, but not of remorse, but rather disappointment that he would miss some benefit. David, on the other hand, displays the genuine repentance which is the work of the Spirit of God. David's very first response to Nathan's rebuke was, I have sinned against the Lord. He did not make any excuse nor try to justify himself. He declared that the true heinousness of his sin was that it was an affront to a holy God. and that he was worthy to be destroyed according to the justice of God. As he said, against thee, thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest. True repentance always magnifies the justice of God in meeting out the just recompense which is due to those who are found guilty before it. It seeks no modification of that justice, but rather submits itself to it. It has no assumption of clemency nor offers any reason for such. Rather, true repentance owns the guilt, exalts the judge, and casts itself upon his mercy. True repentance causes a man to recognize that the root of his problem is not the actions of his flesh, but rather the innate wickedness of his heart. So while there is nothing which is more ordinary among natural men than the remorse which is stirred by nature, There is nothing which is more commonplace among those whom the Spirit of God has quickened than the gift of true spiritual repentance. God gives to every one of his children a measure of faith, but he works in each one of his children the same work of repentance. He will indeed grant repentance unto all who have been given Christ before the foundation of the world. For the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any of us should perish, but that all of us should come to repentance. Do you hate your sin because God hates it? If you would like a free transcript of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.