Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart,
and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
Tear your heart and not your garments,
and turn to Yahweh, your God;
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness,
and relents from sending calamity.
The book of Joel is a prophetic book in the Old Testament, and it is believed to have been written during the period of Judah's history when it was under threat of invasion from neighboring nations. Joel's message is a call to repentance and a warning of the judgment that will come if the people do not turn back to God.
In Joel 2:12-13, God is calling the people of Judah to repentance. The verses begin with the phrase "yet even now," which suggests that the people have already experienced some level of judgment or hardship. The Lord is calling on them to turn to Him with all their hearts, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. This is a call for the people to take their sin seriously and to express genuine sorrow for their wrongdoing.
The phrase "tear your heart and not your garments" is a reference to the practice of tearing one's clothes as a sign of mourning or repentance. Here, God is saying that this outward act is not enough; the people must also have a genuine inward change of heart.
The verses go on to describe the nature of God, highlighting His grace, mercy, and loving kindness. The Lord is slow to anger and is willing to relent from sending calamity if the people will turn back to Him.
The spiritual context of these verses is a call to repentance and a reminder of God's mercy and willingness to forgive. The historical context is one of impending judgment and the threat of invasion, which provides a sense of urgency to the message.
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