The Sorrow of Disobedience

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“In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons” (Ruth 1:1).

It’s important to know that going to Moab in the first place was wrong for everyone. God commanded the Israelites to stay away from Moab and not marry their people (Deuteronomy 23:3-6). Specifically, God says: “You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity all your days forever.” In Ruth 1:1, we find a family seeking the prosperity of Moab and later marrying their people. Ironically, Elimelech leaves Bethlehem (meaning the house of bread) to go to a land where God said he would not be. In a lot of ways, disobedience defines the first verse of Ruth.

When we disobey God, it doesn't mean we simply do something wrong; disobedience means you believe something is better in the moment—something sinful as defined by God. The sorrow of disobedience is self-inflicted. The wake of your choices is shame and guilt. The sorrow you bear is knowing you chose something over God to satisfy your desires or comforts.

Think of moments of disobedience you’ve experienced. Or, are you currently in disobedience? Search your heart and see—where are you before God today?

Psalm 51

“Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
    and blameless in your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
    and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    and sinners will return to you.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
    O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
    build up the walls of Jerusalem;

then will you delight in right sacrifices,
    in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.”

David wrote Psalm 51 after his sin with Bathsheba. Notice how David responds to his disobedience. He cries out for mercy, he recognizes his sin, and he delights in what God delights in. Psalm 51 teaches us how to respond to our sorrow of disobedience: with repentance. Psalm 51 comforts our souls to know that though we sin, God welcomes us back. Even after we sin, our hearts can mourn but then turn to joy in Christ. As Thomas Watson says, “Christ is never sweet—until sin is felt to be bitter." Sin becomes bitter when we turn to Jesus and trust in him.

Offer this prayer to the Lord: 

Oh Lord, my sorrow is deep. I have sinned and my heart is heavy. Forgive me. Against you, and only you, have I sinned. My sin is before you. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. You will not despise me—my sorrow is met with a Savior. Amen. 

Meditate on Psalm 51. Seek to apply other truths found in the psalm to your life. Rewrite the prayer in your own words.

Prayer Points

Consider praying along the prompts in the “Our Congregation” or “Families in our Congregation” sections of the prayer points found here.