JOEL 2:12-13

Joel 2:12-13 12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 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.

1. Judgement
   1. 1:2-20 coming invasion/plague – call to repentance
   2. 2:1-17 coming invasion/plague – call to repentance
2. Yahweh’s response
   1. 2:18-32 future restoration
   2. 3:1-21 judgement of nations

1. Judah has broken its covenant with YHWH and its time to repent.
2. No repentance = judgement, not only for Judah but for the (gentile) nations.
3. There is hope beyond the judgement, restoration for Judah/Israel and the nations (gentiles) too

• Luke 5:31-32 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
• Luke 24:46-47 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for 1the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
• Joel 2:12-13 12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 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.

• A sensitive spirit
• A heart that grieves sin
• A heart torn away from sin “holy violence”
• A disgust for sin
• We recognize that our only hope to tear away from our sin is Jesus.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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