TEXT [Commentary]

black diamond   2.   A plea for communal repentance (2:12-14)

12 That is why the LORD says,

“Turn to me now, while there is time.

Give me your hearts.

Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,

but tear your hearts instead.”

Return to the LORD your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He is eager to relent and not punish.

14 Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve,

sending you a blessing instead of this curse.

Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine

to the LORD your God as before.

NOTES

2:12 Turn . . . Give me your hearts. In accordance with the age-old prediction (Deut 4:30), Joel pleads with the populace to recognize their sinfulness and self-centeredness and to turn to God with all their hearts (cf. Deut 30:2). Joel’s contemporaries Hosea and Amos similarly recognized the coldness of the people’s hearts and urged them to repent (Hos 6:1; 14:1-2; Amos 4:6-11). For a discussion of the verb translated “turn” (shub), see NIDOTTE 4.55-59.

fasting, weeping, and mourning. True repentance was to be accompanied by outward practice. Each was to complement, not take the place of, the other.

2:13 tear your hearts. Far beyond the customary tearing of clothing as a sign of grief over some calamity or misfortune, God wanted broken hearts. Crenshaw (1995:135) rightly observes, “Joel recognized the danger of empty ritual, its deadening capacity to lull the worshipper into a false sense of security, and consequently sought to combat external religion that did not penetrate into the depths of one’s being.”

merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. These attributes of God are often mentioned in the OT, occurring in various combinations. Especially to be noted is the parallel in Jonah 4:2 (see the relevant notes there).

2:14 Who knows? Perhaps. This is another rhetorical question. Joel did not dare to presume upon the divine prerogative. The prophet’s encouraging words that follow are based on the known character of God described in 2:13 (cf. Jonah 3:9; Zeph 2:3). Wolff (1977:50) remarks, “The ‘perhaps’ of hope is appropriate to the humility of one who prays.”

give you a reprieve. Lit., “turn and relent.” The verb shub [TH7725, ZH8740] reappears here (cf. 2:12), thus enveloping the material of vv. 12-14.

COMMENTARY [Text]

Joel now supplies the application for his allegory. The dangers of the great Day of the Lord could yet be averted or at least alleviated. This would call for a total recommitment on the part of the whole populace. Beyond the former plea for penitent sorrow (1:5-13), demonstrated in such outward signs as tearing garments or wearing sackcloth, there needed to be a deep-seated, heartfelt return to God. It would involve a complete reorientation of the lives of everyone concerned. Only then could they hope for the gracious mercy of God to be applied to their situation. If that were to happen, what blessings could ensue! Not only would they have renewed plenty for their needs, but more importantly, they could again offer the grain and drink offerings that had ceased because of the devastation caused by the locusts.

Here again is an emphasis on the high moral attributes of God and his absolute sovereignty. Humans should not presume upon God’s person and works (Amos 5:15; Zeph 2:3), for he always acts in the freedom of his sovereign will (Ps 115:3; Rom 9:14-21). Nevertheless, it is reassuring for the believer to understand something of God’s character so as to be able to rely on his perfect response to any situation. God is consistent in his character: He is gracious and merciful, not easily angered, and full of kindness.

All of these attributes are vital to the believer’s spiritual pilgrimage. In God’s grace he extends his compassion for all his people in their times of need (Deut 4:31). Moreover, in accordance with his great loving-kindness, God is slow to take offense and many times has even relented from sending the punishment that sinners deserve (Ps 78:38; Jer 4:1-2; 2 Pet 3:9). Not only is he the only true God (Deut 6:4; Ps 115:4-8), he is a God of truth so his acts are perfect, just, reliable, and consistent (Deut 32:4; see commentary on Hab 2:4). Accordingly, the believer may count on him in times of trouble (Ps 46:1) and be assured that where there is true repentance and confession of sin (Ps 32:1-5), God will see the heart’s condition (Ps 139:23), grant forgiveness (1 John 1:9), and bring healing (Ps 51:12-17; Isa 57:15). Nevertheless, Joel’s admonition is a reminder of the need for consistency in one’s spiritual experience. How much better it is to keep short accounts with God, so as to avoid the need for chastisement to bring us to confession and repentance.