How does Joel 2:11 stress repentance?
I.e. In what ways does Joel 2:11 emphasize the importance of repentance?
Joel 2:11 The Lord utters his voice
before his army,
for his camp is exceedingly great;
he who executes his word is powerful.
For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;
who can endure it?
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 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.
Joel 2:1 - 32
ESV - 1 Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near. 2 A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations.
Anonymous
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Donna Williams
Supporter
Dear Anonymous, Joel 2:11 emphasizes repentance because the day of the LORD (Yahweh) is a time of His judgment against all who do wickedly. Yahweh always used His prophets to speak to the children of Israel, to warn them of His pending judgment, in order to turn them from wickedness to righteousness. In verses 12-13, it is evident that Yahweh wanted them to rend their hearts, and not their garments. In other words, He was not impressed by their outward show of repentance, but He wanted them to display true repentance by returning to Him through their obedience and being godly sorrowful for rebelling against His commandments. The children of Israel would sit in sackcloth and ashes with torn garments, as a sign of their repentance to Yahweh, God is gracious and merciful, and will always warn us before He sends destruction. When there is true repentance, the Lord will relent of His anger and judgment. True repentance will always result in a change in our behavior by having a change of heart. It is an inner transformation that can only be performed by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. It is what is known as being born again. See John 3:3,5-8.
Leslie Coutinho
Supporter
Joel 2:11: And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? The “Inhabitants of the Land,” given to the forefathers, the Lord who appeared unto Abram led him to depart from Haran, to go to the land of Canaan. Inhabitants of the land today lead us, as Joel was given a vision, for the future judgment. “Hath this been in the days of your forefathers?” For a nation has risen upon “My land.” For the day of the Lord, that shall be great and terrible, whose going forth has been from old from everlasting, the destruction from the Almighty shall come. (Joel 1:2,6,14-15/Micah 5:2) Today, as we see, it was the vision given for the appointed time; for his soul, which is lifted, is not upright in him. He transgressed by wine, being a proud man, has enlarged his desire as hell, and has gathered nations, “which has led to heap upon his people.” (Joel 1:6/Hab 2:3-5) As we see around, the day of the Lord is at hand; the elders of the inhabited land need to cry out to the Lord God. The destruction of the Almighty God shall come; it's time to blow a trumpet in Zion for repentance to all of the inhabitants of the land, for the day of the Lord is nigh at hand. (Joel 2:1) The importance of repentance is emphasized, as for a day of darkness shall come, cry out to the Lord, to “Spare thy people, and let not the heathen rule over you, who will say, Where is thy God?” (Joel 2:17) The ones who are then led for repentance, rend your hearts and not your garments, and then call out to the Lord God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. The Lord shall then be jealous for His land, and pity His people, and utter His voice before His army, the Angels of the Lord, who shall then drive the “Northern Army, (Eze 38:2).” Thus, He shall restore the years (seven years tribulation) having His witnesses who shall then come and “testify, prophesy for repentance” a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (Joel 2:13,20,25/Rev 11:3) For then, let not the lust of your flesh fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind, for the Lord God who is rich in mercy, with His great love, shall quicken us together with Our Lord Jesus to be saved. For through Him, our Lord Jesus, you shall then have access by one Spirit unto the Father our Lord God, who shall then raise you up together. (Eph 2:1-9,18/Rom 8:23,26-27) The Lord who shall then restore the years (Joel 2:25), having His witnesses, Moses and Elijah, the entire creation of God the Father, needs to seek our Lord God the Father for repentance. For then having the witnesses testifying our Lord Jesus, the Lord shall then be awesome unto them, for He shall famish all the gods of the earth. All nations that shall rise against the people of the Lord of hosts, they shall gather together, and the Lord shall then pour out His indignation, who shall then be devoured. (Zep 2:11/3:8) The Army of Angels shall then fly from the midst of heaven, having plagues and pouring out vials upon the earth for those who repented not, and having the mark of the beast, and shall gather them in Ar-ma-ged’-don. For the sun shall be turned to darkness, the moon to blood, before the great, terrible day of the Lord. Whosoever has not taken the mark of the beast and shall call out to the Lord Jesus shall be delivered. For His feet shall stand on that day on the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem, for in mount Zion and Jerusalem shall be the deliverance, for the remnant whom the Lord shall call. (Rev 14:6-15,15:1,16:1/Joel 2:31-32) Matthew 18:3-4: And said, "Verily I say unto you, 'Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Joel 2:12 stresses "weeping and mourning" because genuine repentance requires the engagement of the whole person—emotions included—in response to God's urgent call. The immediate context sets the stage: Joel has just described a devastating locust plague as a foretaste of "the day of the LORD" (Joel 2:1-11). Verse 12 then pivots dramatically from warning to invitation with the hopeful phrase "Yet even now," demonstrating God's willingness to relent when His people return to Him. The summons is comprehensive, demanding a return with "all your heart," which includes intellect (acknowledging sin), will (choosing to return), and emotion (sorrow over sin). The specific commands to fast, weep, and mourn are traditional ancient Near Eastern expressions of repentance and humility, seen throughout Scripture in passages such as 1 Kings 21:27, Jonah 3:5, and Esther 4:3. These outward acts are meant to reflect inward change, as Joel 2:13 immediately clarifies by calling for the rending of hearts rather than garments. Such godly sorrow signals sincerity because, as 2 Corinthians 7:10 teaches, "godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret." Without this heartfelt contrition, merely praying a formula falls short of biblical repentance. This emotionally engaged, wholehearted return positions individuals and communities to receive Yahweh's promised restoration--a covenant renewal ultimately fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A wonderful song that goes along beautifully with this can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/track/3rXY9vyu1o632hyZLFKgkk
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