Summary of the Bible in 66 Days: 29. Return: Joel 2:13

 Joel 2:13 ESV

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.


People tend to rip their clothes in extreme distress. It's not an everyday occurrence. It's a way of demonstrating severe anguish. 

There are Biblical examples of people tearing their clothes, but Joel has a word from the Lord for us to break our hearts, not our wardrobes. God doesn't want outward shows of remorse. He wants an inner change of heart.

God wants us to return to the Lord, and he will heal our broken hearts. He is loving. He isn't quick to anger.

Elsewhere in Scripture we're told similarly  that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Here, Joel says that he relents over disaster. The main reason Jesus hasn't returned yet is because he's giving us the opportunity to repent and turn to him for forgiveness and reconciliation.

'Lord our God, may we return to you, and please bind up our broken hearts. In Christ's name, amen'. 


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