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"Lament and mourn and weep!"

Text: James 4:9

MORE THAN JUST “SAYING SORRY”

Repentance from sin was the message that John the Baptiser preached mightily. He added that there must be fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8).

James offered a different but important perspective of what it means to be truly sorrowful about our sin problems.

“Lament and mourn and weep!
Let your laughter be turned to mourning
and your joy to gloom.”
James 4:9

1. Strong imperative mode

a) The three calls of James were all written in the Imperative mode.

b) His call was not an option offered.

c) The truly repentant person will understand the significance of the imperative mode.

2. “Lament”

a) The word is used as an intransitive verb.

b) It is “to be and to feel miserable”.

c) It describes an inner desire to truly repent.

3. “And mourn”

a) This verb “mourn” is often used in connection with the next verb “weep”.

b) It is a feeling of deep-seated grief that brings about tears.

4. “And weep”

a) This word is closely allied to the verb “mourn”.

b) The truly repentant will feel the weight of his sins and he will mourn in tears.

5. “Let your laughter be turned to mourning”

a) There is nothing wrong with laughter in itself.

b) But there are some who laugh when they do mischief.

“To do evil is like sport to a fool…”
Proverbs 10:23a

c) This kind of laughter must be transformed into mourning.

6. “Your joy to gloom”

a) There is nothing wrong with “joy” in itself.

b) But the person who has not dealt with sins effectively has no reason for “joy”.

c) Till sin has been forgiven and the heart cleansed, it is wise to turn “joy to gloom”.