So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Daniel 9:3
You turn my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. Psalm 30:11
My words…
Praise
At first glance, the ancient ritual of wearing sackcloth seems a little over the top. Sin, grief, guilt, or shame compelled the replacing of soft linen for course goat hair followed by a time among the dirt. The stiff, scratchy garment was only worn when someone messed up (really badly). Was all that really necessary? Did that practice wing their prayers before Your throne more swiftly? Maybe it did. Maybe that practice should not have fallen among the obsolete. Perhaps sackcloth should be sold today on racks beside blue jeans and sweat shirts. If so, I believe two things would happen: 1. Sackcloth wouldn’t sell because genuine, public contrition has grown out of style and 2. It would come in plaid, stripes, and paisley designs with a brushed flannel lining. The wearer of sackcloth, confessing her sin and seeking forgiveness, experienced the blessing of shedding the uncomfortable garment and standing in Your presence purified. She removed the garment, but You removed the grief and guilt.
Prayer for me
Lord, teach me not to take my sin lightly. When I confess and lay my sin before You, You remove it like sackcloth. And because I know You love to forgive me, I may not view my transgressions as seriously as I ought. Forgive me when I go on sinning so grace may abound.
Thank You
Thank You for removing my sackcloth and clothing me with gladness – a fine cloth, woven with strands of heavenly light. It does not chafe like sin. It is not weighty like guilt. It brings out the best in my spirit when I am reminded of the One who gave it.
More praise
When I turn to You, like the Psalmist, You never fail to give me Your full attention. I, who flounder between spiritual weakling and devoted disciple, have Your full attention. How can that be? It’s too marvelous to comprehend. But that’s You: Too Marvelous to Comprehend.
