Sackcloth & Ashes: A Look At True National Repentance - Part 2

“Collective Repentance: A Call for National Humility and Return to God”

Read & download full video transcript here: https://robertwimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sackcloth-Ashes-FULL-SERMON-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Listen & download the full audio here: https://robertwimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sackcloth-Ashes-Audio.mp3

The Example of Nineveh

When you think of Nineveh, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For most of us, it’s probably Jonah—the reluctant prophet who tried to run from God, ended up inside the belly of a great fish, and was eventually spit out onto dry land to deliver a message he didn’t even want to give. But the story of Nineveh is about so much more than just Jonah. It’s a story of a city facing impending destruction, a people humbling themselves before God, and a powerful example of collective repentance.

Now, here’s something we often overlook. Jonah didn’t show up in Nineveh with a gentle message of hope or a call to repentance. No, he came with a warning—plain and simple: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). That’s it. No pleading, no bargaining, no offers of mercy. Just a declaration that judgment was on its way, and the clock was ticking.

Nineveh’s Response: A Miracle in Itself

And what happened next is almost unbelievable. The people of Nineveh, notorious for their wickedness and idol worship, believed Jonah’s message. Think about that for a second. Jonah didn’t even ask them to repent. He just said they were going to be overthrown. But somehow, the entire city—from the lowest citizen to the king himself—responded. They didn’t just believe with their minds; they acted on it.

They proclaimed a fast. They put on sackcloth—a rough, uncomfortable fabric worn as a sign of mourning or repentance. They sat in ashes. Even the king of Nineveh, the most powerful man in the city, got off his throne, set aside his royal robe, and did the same. This wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was an all-in kind of repentance. They humbled themselves before God in the most visible, tangible way possible.

What’s even more striking is that they had no guarantee that this would work. The king’s decree says it all: “Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish” (Jonah 3:9). They weren’t sure if God would spare them, but they knew they had to try. There was no bargaining, no “we’ll do this if you promise to save us.” Just repentance. Pure and simple.

The Power of Humility

One of the most powerful elements of Nineveh’s story is the humility that shines through. Here was a great city, known for its strength, power, and, frankly, cruelty. But when they were faced with the reality of God’s impending judgment, they didn’t try to justify themselves. They didn’t argue that they weren’t that bad or that they didn’t deserve to be punished. They didn’t offer excuses. They simply humbled themselves.

Humility is the key to true repentance, isn’t it? Without humility, there’s no acknowledgment of sin, no recognition of wrongdoing. And without that recognition, there can be no genuine turning back to God. The people of Nineveh understood this. They understood that they were guilty, and they knew that their only hope lay in throwing themselves on God’s mercy.

We can learn a lot from that. How often do we, as individuals—or even as a nation—try to explain away our sins? How often do we justify our actions, saying that “times have changed” or that “we’re only human”? But Nineveh didn’t do that. They saw their sin for what it was, and they responded with humility and repentance.

God’s Response: Mercy for the Repentant

And what did God do? He saw their actions, their repentance, and He relented. “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened” (Jonah 3:10). It wasn’t their sackcloth or fasting that moved God. It wasn’t even their words. It was their hearts. Their actions reflected what had happened internally—they had turned away from their evil ways and toward God. That’s the essence of repentance: a complete change in direction, both in thought and in action.

This is where we see the beauty of God’s mercy. Even though Nineveh deserved judgment—there’s no question about that—God extended mercy because of their repentance. He didn’t overlook their sins. He didn’t ignore what they had done. But because they humbled themselves and turned back to Him, He chose to spare them. That’s the heart of God: always ready to forgive, always ready to show mercy to those who genuinely repent.

A Model for Us Today

So, what does this ancient story have to do with us today? Everything. If we’re honest, we can see that our world—our nation—isn’t all that different from Nineveh. We might not be a city of idol worshipers, but the sins of pride, violence, and moral decay are just as rampant now as they were then. We live in a culture that glorifies self, celebrates rebellion, and often pushes God to the margins.

But the story of Nineveh reminds us that it’s never too late to turn back. It’s never too late for repentance. And it doesn’t take a thousand people or a massive movement to spark that change. It starts with humility—acknowledging that we’ve gone astray, that we need to turn back to God. Collective repentance doesn’t happen overnight, but it starts with individuals recognizing their need for change.

The question is, will we follow Nineveh’s example? Will we humble ourselves, put aside our pride, and turn back to God? Or will we continue down a path that leads to destruction?

Who Will Stand in the Gap?

In Ezekiel 22:30, God says, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” That’s a sobering thought. God was looking for someone—just one person—who would stand in the gap for the nation. But He found no one.

In Nineveh’s case, they didn’t need one person to stand in the gap. The whole city stood in the gap for itself. But what about us? Who will stand in the gap for our nation today? Who will take up the mantle of intercession, crying out to God for mercy on behalf of a wayward people?

Maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s all of us. We need modern-day Jonahs—men and women willing to deliver God’s message, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular. We need people willing to stand in the gap, to pray for our nation, and to call for repentance. Because, like Nineveh, we are on borrowed time. But, like Nineveh, there is still hope.

Conclusion: Time for Action

Nineveh’s story didn’t end with judgment; it ended with mercy. But that mercy came because they acted. They didn’t wait around, hoping things would get better. They took immediate, drastic steps to humble themselves and seek God’s forgiveness.

If there’s one thing we can take away from Nineveh, it’s that God’s mercy is always within reach. But we have to act. We have to humble ourselves. We have to repent—both individually and collectively. It’s not enough to just acknowledge the problem. We have to turn away from our sin and turn back to God.

The story of Nineveh gives us hope, but it also challenges us. Will we, like them, recognize the urgency of the moment? Will we humble ourselves and seek God’s mercy? Or will we continue down the path of destruction? The choice is ours.

In the next part, we’ll explore historical examples of national repentance and how they shaped the course of nations. But for now, let’s reflect on Nineveh’s example and ask ourselves: are we willing to follow in their footsteps? Are we willing to humble ourselves before God and seek His mercy? The answer to that question may very well determine the future of our nation.