The dictionary defines “sorrow” as a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment or other misfortune. This is exemplified with the passing of a relative, someone special, an acquaintance, or an associate. The words sorrow and sorrowful appear several times in the Bible. Sorrow is also a key element when it comes to the christian and his or her attitude toward sin in his or her lifestyle.
There is also “godly sorrow” of which the Apostle Paul refers to in his letter to the Corinthians. He writes, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Here Paul is impressing on the congregation that godly sorrow will lead to a change in their lifestyle and also provide a godly perspective of life for them. Just as their is personal sorrow for the passing of someone, so there should be sorrow for sins we commit which will motivate us to confession to God, which He requires.
King David had to have “godly sorrow” for his personal sin which caused his “broken heart” condition after he committed adultery with Bathsheba. David actually recorded his own prayer of confession and repentance when the prophet Nathan confronted him on his sin. David prayed, “Have mercy upon me, O God. According to Your lovingkindness. According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from from my sin. I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when you speak, and blameless when you judge” (Psalm 51:1-4). To prove that David knew about a “broken heart,” he states in verse 17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. And a broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.”
David is a perfect example of the joy to be experienced when christians acknowledge, confess, and repent of their sins. David also wrote, “I acknowledged my sin to You. And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).
God requires repentance and confession for sin. That is, admitting the wrong done, and receive His divine absolute forgiveness and cleansing, which He and He alone can bring about. Lack of acknowledgment and confession for sin disrupts our fellowship with the Almighty. First John 1:8,9 clearly states, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The prophet Isaiah records the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ and pointed out that Jesus is “rejected of men and a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). Being a Man of sorrow does not mean that Jesus had sin of His own, “and in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). But rather he felt the fate of sinful mankind who would spend a “lost eternity” in hell by rejecting Him as their Savior.
Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemane was a reflection of Him being a Man of sorrows. Matthew records that Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here, while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and deeply depressed. Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” (Matthew 26:36-38). The weight of the sins of His people was much to bear to the extent he prayed, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass from me unless I drink it, Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42).
In this christians can rejoice in the fact that all our sins were laid on Jesus who bore them in His body on the cross. God, who knew the situation, laid them on Him, and believing we are made free.