The Place of Repentance

"Let them cry mightily to God; yea, let every one turn from his evil way" (Jonah 3:8).

Read: Jonah 3:8; II Chr. 7:14; Hosea 14:2; Psalm 51:17; Acts 2:38; II Cor. 7:10.

What Is God Saying?

The situation in Nineveh called for drastic action. God's judgment was about to fall on that "great city". Jonah was to be God's messenger to the city, but he hated to have his number called up for this mission. So he went AWOL. He went as far and fast as he could in the opposite direction. It even took a whale to stop him in his tracks and bring him to his senses. God's mercy can often seem harsh.

But he who was straying started into praying ... earnestly. The place of his prayer was no cushion-pewed chapel with stained glass windows, but the need was evident and the time was right. Jonah prayed for a second chance and by the word of the Lord the whale beached him, humbled and broken, but safe and sound, and very, very grateful. Now he had a second chance. This time he went to Nineveh and "cried out" the message he should have brought in the first place. There was enough God-given eloquence in Jonah's message and enough hard-earned sincerity in his voice to bring conviction to a whole city. Behind the leadership of the king (who was also under conviction), the people followed his example and obeyed his command. They "cried mightily" for forgiveness and turned from their evil ways.

How Does This Apply To Us?

Nineveh, in a city-wide revival, cried mightily to the Lord. It was not a few accustomed rituals or some quiet mumbling in the proper time and proper manner lest someone other than God might hear. They cried the cry of conviction, the cry of earnestness, the cry of desperate need.

• It was steam escaping from a valve.

• It was the cry of the lost to be found.

• It was the cry of the helpless to be rescued.

Repentance does not always call for "crying mightily", but it does call for sincerity, deep conviction of need, and an honest decision to be right with God who, through Christ, has made it possible. Hosea says in Chap. 14, verses I and 2: "Return, 0 Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your m1qm ty. Take with you words and return to the Lord-say to him, 'Take away all iniquity"'. There is a place and a lime for "crying mightily" to the Lord-not necessarily audible but certainly sincere.

When we need to cry, mumbling won't do. So we come to prayer with deep calling unto deep. The depth of our need calls on the wideness of God's mercy. Shakespeare expresses this need in Macbeth (Act IV, Sc. 3) as Malcolm prods Ross, lately come from Scotland, not to hold back the tragic news of his family there-

"Give sorrow words: The grief that does not speak Whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids 1t break."

Pray With Me

God of infinite mercy, You had pity on Nmevah when her people repented. Let me have complete assurance that You always hear the cry for mercy from penitent hearts. "A broken and a contrite heart, You will not despise, 0 God " Once again in Your Word I have seen what is required in repentance, not only a cry for help but a turning from evil.

Repentance is a cry, and true repentance is a mighty cry. It is a person's owning up to the fact that he cannot save himself. It is not the casual banter of shallow conversation nor the empty-mouthing of self-sufficiencies. Repentance is a cry. It is deep calling unto deep. It is the lost who hope to be found. It is the sinking who reach out for a hand. It is the hungry begging for bread. It is the burden needing release. But, Lord, Your word has also said that repentance is more than crying.

It is turning from the evil way. Give me the grace to do more than lift my voice. Help me to turn my feet. Let me ask for Your help, Lord, but let me also act by Your help. Not only will I mourn for failures in the past, but even more I will move into victories that lie ahead, I will confidently expect those great triumphs that are waiting only for the walk of obedience and faith. In Your faith hear my cry and in Your wisdom guide my steps.

For the sake of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Amen.

Moving On in the Life of Prayer

Have we brought words that tell of our sorrow for sin? There is one further thing that needs to be done before repentance is real and prayer has power-we must turn every one from his evil ways and then we will find that beyond the sorrow for all we have done wrong there is the inexpressible JOY of doing right. We can do that in the strength of Christ, for" ... his strength is made perfect in weakness" (II Cor. 12:9). Take your needs to God in prayer. Then get on the road for God in service.