God’s Word says “the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning.” (Ecclesiastes 7:4) Let’s mourn together now over our sins, sins that brought grief to the Man of Sorrows. Would you pray with me?
Our gracious God and Heavenly Father,
You are the Sovereign Lord.
You made the heavens and the earth.
Your steadfast love endures forever.
Your steadfast love is better than life.
But we have failed to love You as You deserve.
Because of our sin, we ought to lament before You,
like a young woman dressed in sackcloth,
mourning the death of her husband.
But we don’t.
We so rarely, if ever, weep over our sin.
O Lord, our hearts are often cold to Your love.
Our minds are often numb to Your Word.
Our wills are often stubborn to Your ways.
O Lord, rend our hard hearts, we pray!
Help us to mourn our many sins.
Our words, and thoughts, and actions,
bear witness against us.
Our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
And, Holy Father, the blood of Your Beloved Son,
the blood of Your anointed One,
should have been upon our heads.
It grieves us, Lord Jesus,
that because of us, Your sacred head was wounded.
It grieves us, Lord Jesus,
that because of us, Your sacred head was crowned with thorns.
It grieves us, Lord Jesus,
that because of our transgressions, You were pierced.
It grieves us, Lord Jesus,
that it was our sins that caused You grief,
that it was our sins that caused You sorrow,
that it was our sins that caused You pain.
And yet, wonder of wonders, You love us still!
O Lord, how could we ever doubt Your love for us?
You loved us when we were dead in our trespasses and sins.
You loved us with a love that is stronger than death.
O Father of mercy, You sought us in our rebellion,
You drew near to us in the gospel of Your Son,
You showered us with grace.
You covered us with compassion.
You robed us with righteousness.
You rescued us from the domain of darkness.
You transferred us into the kingdom
of Your Beloved Son,
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
We deserved to be cast out,
where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
We deserved to be cast out into outer darkness.
But through Your Beloved Son and by Your blessed Spirit,
You have turned our mourning into dancing.
You have raised the poor from the dust.
You have lifted up the needy from the ash heap.
You have welcomed us with the open arms of grace.
You have brought us into Your banqueting house,
and the banner over us is love.
We had orphaned ourselves because of our rebellion,
But You have adopted us to Yourself.
You have seated us at table with the King of kings,
Not as a guest, but as a child at home,
so that in the coming ages
You might show the immeasurable riches
of Your grace in kindness towards us
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
O Lord, You have promised:
“Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.”
O, hasten that day of comfort;
When sorrow and sighing will flee away,
When You will wipe every tear from our eyes,
When we will finally see You face to face,
When our hearts will rejoice,
And no one will take our joy from us.
Until that Day, O LORD, bless us and keep us,
Make Your face to shine upon us and be gracious to us;
Lift up Your countenance upon us and give us peace.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You,
together with the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever blessed and forever praised. Amen.
