Joel 2 Devotional

Even Now There Is Time

“So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.”Joel 2:13 (BSB)

Joel describes the day of the LORD as a vast army that darkens the sky, with the LORD himself at its head, and he asks who can endure it (2:1-11). Then, at the darkest point, God speaks: even now, return to him with all your heart (2:12). The call is to tear hearts rather than garments, because he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love (2:13). Everyone is summoned, and the priests plead with God to spare his people (2:16-17). And he does. He becomes jealous for his land, spares them, and promises to repay the years the locusts ate (2:18-25).

Then comes a larger promise. God will pour out his Spirit on all people, on sons and daughters, old and young, even servants, and everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved (2:28-32). At Pentecost Peter announced that this is what Joel had spoken (Acts 2:16-21). Because God is this kind of God, it is never too late to return.

To think about: What would it look like for you to return to God with your whole heart, not just outward signs, today?