Sackcloth and Ashes

Home clothes are comfortable: sweatpants, t-shirts, slippers, gowns. But in the Bible people sometimes put on an uncomfortable garment called sackcloth.

Some think sackcloth is a burlap-like material—the fabric used for potato sacks—but consider Revelation 6:12: “The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair.” So sackcloth could be made from black goat’s hair while burlap is made from a plant. Like burlap, however, it was uncomfortable to wear. Think of the irritation on the skin from the constant rubbing against coarse goat hair.

Sackcloth was worn during times of mourning:

• When Jacob thought his beloved son Joseph was killed, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. (Gen 37:34)
• When David learned that his son Abner was killed, he told Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” (2 Sam 3:31)
• Likewise, when David’s young son was ill, “He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.” (2 Sam 12:16)

Sackcloth was also worn during times of urgent petition and repentance:

• When Elijah pronounced divine judgment on the wicked King Ahab, Ahab “tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly” (1 Ki 21:25-27). In response, God decided to delay his judgment.
• When the king of Assyria threatened Judah, King Hezekiah “tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.” (2 Ki 19:1-2)
• On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. (Neh 9:1-2)
• When Mordecai learned that Haman was planning to destroy the Jews, “he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. (Esther 4:1-4)
• Daniel says, “I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. (9:3)
• When Jonah pronounced judgment on the city of Nineveh, “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. . . 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.” (Jon 3:5-10)

So sackcloth is connected with mourning, dust, ashes, fasting, and repentance.

We don’t have any New Testament commands telling us to wear sackcloth so what’s the point?

In the modern world, we run toward medicine to numb our pain; we strive to be as comfortable as possible.

But what if God wants us to feel pain sometimes? What if there is a purpose to the friction on our skin? Pain clearly served a purpose in the life of Christ. His sufferings and death led to the salvation of the world. Why wouldn’t pain serve a purpose in our lives?

Wearing sackcloth means there are times when we should intentionally humble ourselves and give up regular comforts. Even the wicked King Ahab tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted.

Although James does not mention sackcloth, his words are reminiscent of these Old Testament examples:

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (4:8-10)

Imagine encouraging someone to mourn instead of cheer up. This teaching echoes Jesus’ words: “Blessed are those who mourn”(Matt 5:4). At times, we should humble ourselves, mourn, and put on sackcloth so to speak. But sackcloth is only a temporary garment destined to be replaced.

Jesus’ words continue, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted” (Matt 5:4). This comfort will be eternal because God “‘will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev 21:4). Then the words of David will find their ultimate fulfillment, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” (Ps 30:11).

Les Bridgeman

After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. My latest book focuses on Paul’s work as a tentmaker and what it means for today.