What Real Returning Really Requires

What is repentance, really? After being neglected for twenty or so years, the people of God at last begin to mourn for the ark of the covenant. For half a generation, it has sat despised, away from the Tabernacle. When Samuel sees the people's tears, he challenges them to examine whether their sorrow is the godly variety or not. If so, they must put away their idols and all that they entail. Along the way, we learn the nature of real repentance. It is costly. It moves beyond sorrow to concrete action, as we turn from sin to single-minded, undivided love for the living God, who offers mercy to his children.