Joel 2:12-17 (NRSV)
Read Joel 2:12-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; Verse 13rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Verse 14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Verse 15Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; Verse 16gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. Verse 17Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep. Let them say, "Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
Devotion
The meaning of the passage, “Rend your hearts and not your clothing,” is obvious. What is required is a conversion of the heart. However, if we’ve ever tried to pursue some change that was earnestly desired on our part, we know that this is easier said than done. Perhaps the question in this entire passage is where do we place our trust. Do we place it on our ability to affect within ourselves the desired change, or do we place our trust in a gracious and merciful God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love?
Prayer
God, our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, in spite of our desire for peace and reconciliation, we continue to wage war and seek vengeance. We pray for that part of us that solves conflict with violence of any kind that resides in all of us. Please, save us from ourselves. Amen