MOURNING, A BLESSING?
(Words From the Mountain)
We started a series called Words from the Mountain, based on the Sermon on the Mount. After witnessing the powerful demonstration of God's Kingdom, crowds followed Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountainside. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them these powerful, counter-cultural, and life-transforming teachings of God's Kingdom. His teaching included eight pronouncements of blessings, known as the BEATITUDES.
The Beatitudes and the rest of the teachings show how
Christ followers are supposed to live in this World according to God's Kingdom
principles. This past week, we examined the first Beatitude, "Blessed are
the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Being blessed in
this verse doesn't refer to material wealth or success. The Greek word for
"Blessed" means to be fully satisfied through the indwelling presence
of Christ.
We will now examine the second Beatitude in Matthew 5:4,
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Like the
first, this sets the believer apart from the rest of the World. In fact, the World
would see this statement as completely foolish—"Blessed are those who
mourn!" The World generally tries to avoid mourning. The overall focus of
the World is on being happy and carefree, seeking maximum pleasure through any
means.
People fear death, struggle with sorrow and grief, and
often do not know how to mourn when someone passes away. Instead of mourning
properly, we tend to focus on celebrating the person's life. What did Jesus
mean by saying, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted"? Our Lord didn't say, "Blessed are those who mourn over
someone's natural death, will be comforted." Instead, He referred to
spiritual mourning, as we learn from the first Beatitude, that the poor in
spirit are not financially poor but spiritually impoverished.
Similarly, this Beatitude isn't about our physical life and death in this World, but rather focuses mainly on our spiritual condition. Many biblical passages discuss mourning over loved ones' physical death and how the God of all comfort consoles us during our grief. In this context, God cares more about our souls. This Beatitude emphasizes mourning over the state of human souls. Is there a blessing in spiritual mourning, and what does it look like? Matthew 5:1-4
I. Mourning, a Blessing?
Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they
will be comforted." Let's take a closer look at this. In the first
Beatitude, the blessedness depends on recognizing one's spiritual poverty or
helplessness. In the second, the blessedness comes to those who mourn their own
sins and the sins of others. First, let's examine how this personal mourning
works.
In the OT, the Israelites quoted a proverb that said,
"The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on
edge?" Ezekiel 18:2. The sour grapes here refer to the sins of the fathers
and their negative effects on future generations (Numbers 14:18). The
Israelites, quoting this proverb, instead of taking personal responsibility, blamed
their ancestors for their sins.
As if God were tired of hearing it, He wanted to eliminate such a flimsy excuse through the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel 18:3-4, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die."
Let's not underestimate
the devastating consequences of parents' irresponsible behaviors on their
children. For instance, the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes,
"unfortunately, abusing drugs while pregnant can have several effects, such
as fetal development, birth defects, risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and other
physical and behavioral problems, such as difficulties with concentration,
attention span, and general conduct."[1]
Though children may face consequences because of their parents' sins,
ultimately, God holds each person accountable for their own sins, and they must
face eternal consequences. Therefore, we need to stop playing the blame game,
as Adam and Eve did, and start taking responsibility for our own sins and
repenting. In doing so, we will experience God's blessings.
In the Bible, there are
several examples of people who took responsibility for their sins and were
comforted, as well as those who didn't repent and faced consequences. Consider
these notable Old Testament figures: King Saul and King David. Saul was a
typical example of someone from a humble background who rose to the throne of
Israel and became a King.
Although he achieved significant victories for the
Israelites, he was unable to conquer his inner enemies, such as anger,
jealousy, fear, and revenge, nor did he repent for his own sins. Ultimately, he
was rejected as king and took his own life amid a war against the Philistines.
(I Sam 9-31). On the other hand, David also started humbly and, through God's
providence, rose to become king of Israel at age 30, succeeding Saul. He ruled
over Israel and Judah for 33 years. (II Sam 5:4-5). Still, he also struggled
with his own sins, especially with Bathsheba.
When Prophet Nathan confronted David about his adultery
with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah, David repented of his sin. Instead of
passing the blame, he took responsibility for his own actions, saying, "I
have sinned against the Lord." (II Samuel 11-12). He lamented over his sin
as he wrote a Psalm, begging for God's mercy and forgiveness. Psalm 51:1-12
"Have mercy on me, O
God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot
out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you,
you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right
in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful
from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
David's mourning and
repentant heart earned him the reputation of being a man after God's own heart.
Acts 13:22. What sins are you hiding? David knew fully well that he could not
hide, so he said, "You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from
you." Psalm 69:5
Psalm 32:3-5, "When
I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day
and night, your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of
summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I
said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Pro 28:13, "Whoever
conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces
them finds mercy." Could you hide your sins from God? He knows and sees
them fully well. Therefore, before you face consequences, you mourn, repent,
and plead for God's mercy. "Godly sorrow leads to repentance and
salvation, leaving no regret." II Corinthians 7:10
We struggle
greatly when we live with unconfessed and unrepentant sins, but through
mourning and repentance, we will be blessed. The blessedness we experience is the
salvation of our souls, the joy, healing, and health that come with that. This Beatitude
doesn't stop at seeking our personal salvation; it also includes mourning for
others through intense intercession.
II.
Mourning and Interceding for the Salvation of Others.
The scriptures have many examples of people who mourned
and interceded for the salvation of others. From the beginning, God has
been greatly concerned about humanity's sins. The Lord was grieved in his heart
when he saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth.
Gen 6:6-9. He decided to wipe out all of them, but he found one righteous man,
Noah, and through him, He not only saved the creation but also the human race.
Abraham pleaded before God for the
sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen 18:16-19. Jesus, in his high priestly prayer,
prayed not only for himself and his own disciples, but also for the unsaved
people in the World. John 17. He left us this mission to intercede for others'
salvation.
I Timothy 2:1-4, I urge, then, first
of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all
people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and
quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our
Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the
truth."
The scriptures tell us we are to have the attitude of
Christ. As the first two beatitudes call us, let's empty ourselves to be filled
up by God. Let's mourn not only our own sins but also the sins of others, so
that we will be comforted and the world will be a better place.
