Scripture Text: Joel 2:12-17
and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Joel 2:13, ESV
A businessman whose unethical practices were widely known once told Mark Twain of the pilgrimage he hoped to make some day. “Before I die,” he said, “I will climb Mount Sinai and read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top.” Twain was not impressed. “I have a better idea”, he retorted. “You could stay at home in Boston and keep them.”
Religious observances like fasting can have great value. But they were never meant to serve as a substitute for genuine repentance. In Joel’s day, God’s people engaged in religious rituals like fasting and tearing their garments. The problem with these efforts was that they were not performed with a repentant heart (Joel 2:12). As far as God was concerned, the outward form of such rituals was not nearly as important as the attitude of the heart. He challenged them saying, “rend your hearts and not your garments” (Joel 2:13). He also reminded them of the description of His compassion that He gave to Moses after Israel had sinned with the golden calf. This description underscored the folly of their mechanical approach to worship.
True repentance is not a matter of perfunctory observance of certain rituals but is grounded in relationship. Those who turn to God in repentance do not base their appeal for forgiveness on their own performance but upon God’s character. In Joel 2:13 the prophet gives them five reasons for “rending their hearts”: God’s grace, compassion, patience, love, and mercy. Based upon this, the prophet called upon the priests to declare a sacred assembly in the hope that sincere repentance would result in restoration. This was to be a universal expression of grief over sin. Although public and formal, it was also to be sincere (Joel 2:12).
Reflect
Has your devotional life become too mechanical?
Remember
We are to approach God with the confidence that He sees what is done in secret and knows all that we truly need. As you approach God in prayer today, ask yourself whether you are merely going through the motions. Perhaps it is time to make a change. Take a walk and use what you see as a basis for prayer. Find a hymn and let its words guide your devotional time. Whatever you choose to do, be sure that you engage your heart first.
Read
Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:2; Matthew 5:3-4
Romans 2:4
Pray
Heavenly Father, You can see what is the real me and inside of me. Forgive me for rendering to You vain and empty worship and service. A mechanical repentance, one that is not coming from my heart neither words and deeds without my heart. I forget that what You really desire and look for me is to approach You, come to You with a contrite heart and humble spirit. Let me see more of Your grace, compassion, patience, love, and mercy that I may see my position before You. Make this heart of mine truly love You for who You are and not because of what You can do for me. This I pray in Your Son’s name and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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