“‘Now, therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:12-13).
The date of Joel’s writing is undetermined. Many speculate, but no one knows for sure. All that his known is that his warning to God’s people is for them to repent of their sins, and turn themselves back to Him.
The language used in this passage teaches us the nature of true repentance. “Turn to Me with all your heart…” indicates that repentance requires full submission to the Lord. You can’t have true repentance if you reserve the “right” to do as you will in any matter. “I will repent, but…” has no place in the Christian’s confession.
In order for repentance to be accepted by God it must be fully sincere. The phrase, “So rend your heart, and not your garments” shows this perfectly. Too often men make a show of sorrow, to lead men to think they are truly repentant. The Jews of Jesus day did this, disfiguring their faces while fasting (cf. Matthew 16:6), and praying on the corners of the streets “that they may be seen by men” (Matthew 6:5). When men see actions, God sees the heart.
Repentance must be total and heartfelt. If it is, God is “gracious and merciful” and just to forgive!
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