The Candle of Remorse

Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. I will establish My covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD, so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth again because of your disgrace." This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. - Ezekiel 16:61-63 HCSB

There once was a man who had inadvertently committed a sin. He was mortified by his mistake and approached a righteous elder about the issue. “How will I ever make atonement for such a terrible sin?” the man sobbed.

The tzaddik (righteous one) knew that the man tended to be superstitious so he ordered him to simply bring a candle to God’s house and light it. Another believer who overheard the conversation strongly disapproved and decided to watch what would happen so that he could reprove the elder.

The sinner brought his candle but before he could light it, a dog ran in, snatched it out of his hand and ran off with it! The poor man was terrified. He cried out, “God has rejected my sacrifice! I remain guilty of my sin!”

The judgmental believer smiled in satisfaction at the sinner’s discomfiture but the tzaddik knew what was going on and had a plan. He calmed the man down. “These things happen! Just because a dog ate your candle doesn’t necessarily mean Hashem rejects you. Bring another candle tomorrow and we’ll see what happens.”

The next day the man tried to light his candle, but a wind arose and blew it out. The poor man only had the one match and couldn’t light it again and so his attempts to atone for his sin were yet again stymied.

Finally, the tzaddik explained things to both the sinner and his critic. “You’re right. God has rejected your sacrifice, but not for the reason you both think. The Creator of Light who lives in the Heavenlies and who will one day light up New Jerusalem with His glory has no need for your candle. Your true, godly remorse[1] is worth more to Him than a million candles.”[2]

Shame and remorse have a proper and valuable place in Ransomed theology. Hashem reproved the nation of Israel for their sin, but in His mercy He made atonement for them. His goal was that they would, when they recalled their former sin, feel shame and in their disgrace humbly shut their mouths.

Too many of us are either like the sinner, thinking that we have to somehow earn our way back into God’s graces or like the critic who forgot that he too was a sinner in need of mercy. When we sin, let us light the candle of remorse and wait for Hashem to raise our heads.[3] Then let us be merciful when others also sin.

[1] 2 Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 26:75
[2] Psalm 32:5; 51:17; Hosea 6:6; Mark 12:33; Romans 12:2
[3] 1 John 1:9; 1 Peter 5:5-6