relents

This week we begin worship with:

Joel 2:12-13

“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.

When? “Yet even now, . . ”.  It is never too late in this life to repent. Never will God turn you away.  Never.

What?  “with all your heart”.  He wants all of you.  Not one bit should be held back. Not one bit is too far gone to be revived and made new. 

How?  “rend your hearts and not your garments.” A priest would tear their priestly garments to defend the honor of God when they heard someone speak blasphemy (Matthew 26:65)  We are instead to tear down any pretense that we are sovereign from within our own self.

Why? “abounding in steadfast love” Because God loves you, He will prevent the disaster that awaits the unrepentant soul.  He will “relent” (nāḥam), and take pity on you.  

The word is also properly translated “repent” (KJV).  God will prevent your punishment because it would be wrong of Him to do it.  We come to understand in the New Testament that it would be unjust.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.