What is True Repentance?

What is True Repentance?
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
Rosh Hashanah has its origins as the Feast of the Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 29:1-6). At some point, the Feast of the Trumpets became the day on which the Jewish New Year is celebrated. Today, it is known as Rosh Hashanah, meaning, literally, “head of the year.”
While Rosh Hashanah is a day of celebration, blessing, and joyful anticipation, it also begins a time of earnest reflection and repentance culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish year.
The ten-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called the “High Holy Days,” or “Days of Awe.” These are the most widely observed of all Jewish holy days. The Hebrew month of Elul, preceding the High Holy Days, is set aside as a time for reflection and soul-searching. The dominant them during this 40 day period from the beginning of Elul through Yom Kippur is teshuvah, or repentance. Repentance is more than just a “change of mind.” True repentance involves a “change in action” as well, a turning away from bad and a turning toward good. In the words of the psalmist, “Depart from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:14)
I’m reminded of King David when he sinned with Bathesheba and had her husband killed. When the prophet Nathan came to him and told him the story of the lamb and then declared to David he was the man. Immediately David recognized his sin and began to fast and pray. You can see the heart of a man who is truly repentant. This is why I think later God said, “David is a man after my own heart.”
Over the next few weeks as the Jewish people celebrate Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur it would do us good to do some of the things they will be practicing. One of those is internal reflections. During these days they will spend time before God reflecting and repenting from their sins and bad choices and putting themselves in a position to receive from God and get directions for the New Year. God loves it when his people have a repentant attitude and heart. May God richly bless you as you endeavor to do His will.
Consumed by the call,
Pastor Marty