by Rehema Jonathan | 18 November 2020 08:46 am11
(Understanding the Biblical Use of Sackcloth in Mourning and Repentance)
In modern times, when we hear the word “sack” we often think of grain sacks made of synthetic materials like sulphate or sisal fiber. However, the concept of sackcloth in the Bible is entirely different both in material and meaning.
Biblically, sackcloth was a coarse, uncomfortable fabric usually made from goat hair, not from plant-based or synthetic materials. It was not worn for fashion or protection but for spiritual expression a visible sign of mourning, humility, or repentance before God.
Let’s explore these two major uses of sackcloth in Scripture.
Sackcloth was commonly worn during times of deep sorrow and national or personal tragedy. Wearing it publicly was a way of expressing grief, vulnerability, and emotional distress.
Biblical Examples:
Rizpah’s Mourning for Her Sons
Rizpah, a concubine of King Saul, mourned the death of her sons by covering a rock with sackcloth and keeping vigil over their bodies:
2 Samuel 21:10 (NIV)
“Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.”
Jeremiah Urging the People to Mourn
The prophet Jeremiah calls the Israelites to wear sackcloth as they face the judgment of God due to their sins:
Jeremiah 4:8 (NIV)
“So put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the Lord has not turned away from us.”
Jeremiah 6:26 (NIV)
“Put on sackcloth, my people, and roll in ashes; mourn with bitter wailing as for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.”
A National Sign of Distress
Sackcloth was worn not just by individuals, but also by kings and prophets as a national act of mourning (see 2 Kings 6:30, 2 Kings 19:1).
Beyond mourning, sackcloth was a way of expressing true repentance. It symbolized the recognition of one’s sinfulness, humility before God, and the desperate need for His mercy.
Biblical Examples:
Daniel’s Intercessory Prayer
Daniel, a righteous prophet, interceded for his people by fasting, praying, and wearing sackcloth to show sincere repentance:
Daniel 9:3 (NIV)
“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.”
The People of Nineveh
When Jonah warned Nineveh of impending destruction, the people repented in a dramatic way, showing the depth of their humility:
Jonah 3:5–6 (NIV)
“The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.”
“When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.”
National Repentance in Israel
Sackcloth was also used during times of collective national repentance:
Nehemiah 9:1 (NIV) – “On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.”
The New Testament does not command believers to wear physical sackcloth when mourning or repenting. Instead, the emphasis shifts from outward expressions to inner transformation.
Joel 2:12–13 (NIV) prophetically captures this transition:
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
The message here is clear: God desires genuine repentance from the heart, not just symbolic acts. While sackcloth served its purpose in the Old Testament as a visible sign of mourning or humility, today God looks at the condition of the heart, not the clothing.
As Jesus said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3 (NIV)
And again, the Apostle Paul wrote:
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)
Wearing sackcloth was never about the cloth itself it was about the posture of the soul. The real question for us today is not whether we wear sackcloth, but:
Have you torn your heart before God in repentance?
If not, there’s no better time than now to humble yourself before Him, not just outwardly, but inwardly with sincerity, brokenness, and faith.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
May the Lord bless you and lead you into true repentance and healing.
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