“Sorry, not sorry!”
Have you heard someone use that phrase? People say “sorry” and then in very quick succession, with no gap, they tack on “not sorry!” Almost like recruits at boot camp saying, “Sir, yes sir!” really fast. What do people mean when they say, “sorry, not sorry”? Are they sorry or are they not sorry?
When people say “sorry, not sorry,” they are in a situation when they are supposed to be sorry, and when it is customary to say sorry, but they are actually not sorry at all. It’s as though they are saying, “I’m going to say ‘sorry’ to abide by cultural expectations, but just like that I am also going to let you know that I am not actually sorry.”
“Sorry, not sorry” is often used in a humorous way, as people are boldly declaring that though they have done something that seems to be wrong, they are feeling just fine about it, and their “sorry, not sorry” might cause a giggle in response. Usually, people can only say “sorry, not sorry” when the offense they did is not too terrible. They know they can get away with being somewhat glib about it.
As we continue our study through the life of David, we are going to meet a man who is not sorry about what he did, and what he did was awful. In fact, what he did is so bad, it could throw the nation of Israel into chaos. Watching all this is David. How will he respond? What David chooses to do in this very tense moment is instructive for us. What does it mean to be truly sorry?
Join us on the blog next week the story of 2nd Samuel chapter 2, verse 8 through chapter 3, verse 39 will help us think about godly sorrow.
Photo by Steve DiMatteo on Unsplash
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