“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Joel 2:13
Rending garments was an outward expression of distress, of uncontrollable emotion, of grief, of sorrow, of terror, or of horror either in private or public. Gen. 37:34; Lev. 13:45; Job.1:20; Acts 14:14. In the Bible it was not mentioned as a part of ordinary mourning.
The holy garments of the priests were on no occasion to be rent Lev.10:6; Ex. 28:32. But in Jesus Christ's case the High Priest Caiaphas tore his garments which was the act of greater hypocrisy Matt 26:65; Mk.14:63. It might be done hypocritically. Where there is no true repentance.
Prophet Joel plainly didn’t forbid the use of such outward expression, by which person’s repentance might be expressed, but only requires that it be done not in outward expression only, but accompanied with the inward affections “rend or pierce your hearts rather than your garments, and turn to God with true repentance.” Conversion of heart is important than religious conversion.
It is God’s will that everyone must turn to Him with true repentance and not just outwardly. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite, O God, you will not despise.” Ps.51:17
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 Jn 1:9
He says to all us “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezek 36:26
He forgives him/her sins and changes person into new creation. Anyone can approach Him with repented heart for the forgiveness of sins.
God says “Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backsliding.” Jer.3:22
He is slow to anger and kind God. He is gracious and merciful to forgive our sins. He delights not in the death of sinners, but desires that they may turn and have everlasting life. That is why Lord Jesus Christ offered His Life for the sins of whole world. “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Lk. 19:10.
A few examples are given below:
- Ninevites repented and reformed and saved. Jonah 3:9; Lk.10: 9-10
- Zacchaeus repentance and received the gift of the salvation; Lk. 15: 17-19
- Prodigal’s repentance. But Judas and one thief didn’t repent and they perished. Mtt.27:5; Lk.23:36.
Rev. Varinder Kumar
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