Joel 2:12-13 presents in a concise, brief passage a densely packed call to repentance. More than just a plea for godly living, these two verses provide a theological framework for how the sinner is called by God to repentance. It juxtaposes man and God demonstrating sound, perspicacious Biblical doctrine.
Verse 12’s opening words set the foundations for repentance and why reconciliation is possible at all. YHWH declares, “yet even now…” demonstrating both His concern and patience with man. Originating back to Genesis 3:15 God demonstrates throughout Scripture His heart to see man reconciled unto Him. The narrative of Israel attests to God’s provision for man’s salvation as well as man’s incessant failure to heed the divine call. Joel 2:12 reiterates God immeasurable patience through this declaration, as God continues to plea and wait for man to repent.
As God sits and waits in His perfect glory He calls for man’s repentance. The prophet Joel uses the word shenayim, which literally means, “to be given to change again [over and over].” While the word certainly can be translated, as the New American Standard does so, as “return” the implication in verse 12 is that repentance is a continual process by which man is more and more conformed into the righteousness of God. Repentance requires first a willing action on the part of man in which he desires and allows God to perform His work within him. Second, the verse declares to turn to God with “all your heart.” Repentance is certainly a conscious choice of the mind but must be made earnestly within one’s soul. Furthermore, in order to reconcile and redeem man’s soul “over and over,” God must have complete control and access, hence why YHWH requires man’s repentance to be made with all his heart.
Verse 12 ends with three characteristics that should define man’s repentance: with “fasting,” “weeping,” and “mourning.” Such a turn from wickedness to God will be marked with overflowing lament over the immeasurable dishonor one’s sin causes God. Only through this profound recognition can man truly grasp the divide that separates him from God. An important note concerning these three characteristics is that they are verbs, not adjectives. When man begins to truly understand the gravity of his sin he should be moved to action and fervently seek a means by which he can atone for his transgression and be reconciled to God. The passage is quick, however, to follow these three verbs with the action that God ultimately yearns for and will accept.
Here serves as an excellent point for reminder that the original text did not have verse numbers and delegations and would not have been split up as the modern Western world has seen fit to do with the Scriptures. What should remain in verse 12 actually begins verse 13 with God summarizing how man may properly “fast,” “weep,” and “mourn:” “and rend your heart and not your garments.” How this phrase is broken up can be very misleading, seeming to say that man can only be reconciled to God after he goes through some prescribed system of fasting and lamentation. Yet the text is clear to articulate that God desires these actions of the heart, not as acts of penance.
1 Samuel 15 attests to this truth of God when the prophet Samuel declares to Saul, “has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” Further, the Spirit testifies through David, “You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise,” (Psalm 51:16-17). Because of man’s inherent corruption no amount of fasting or lamentation could atone for the infinite dishonor sin brings God. Yet God in His perfect righteousness can overcome sin through His perfect actions. All God requires and “needs,” therefore, is that man would completely surrender his contrite heart to Him.
Joel employs the imagery and cultural practice of tearing one’s clothing in sorrow to characterize the contrite spirit of the repentant. The prophet employs the word qara` which means, “to tear or rend” to illustrate the rightful response of man. Again this depiction of repentance and the emphasis on the sinner’s heart agrees exactly with the testimony of Scripture that man’s spirit must be broken before God in order to be redeemed.
Again the English text reads, “return to YHWH your God.” Whereas in verse 12 the prophet uses the word, shenayim, here in verse 13 he uses, shuv, which can be translated, “to turn back.” The command is not to return necessarily to some point in the person’s life, however, since at no time is a person without sin. Rather, God calls man to seek to return to the time before the Fall. In other words, the contrite of heart should seek that perfection and union with God that he originally possessed in the Garden of Eden.
Just as the passage began by characterizing the God who desires and makes repentance possible, so, too, does the passage conclude by listing God’s qualities that make Him both the ultimate object of desire as well as the ultimate and only vehicle for redemption. Man should seek God and reconciliation with Him purely for who He is. First, He is “gracious.” Inherently tied to His patience, God’s graciousness is most manifest to man in that He makes provision for his redemption, allowing man to seek Him though he is corrupt and unworthy. God, therefore, shows “compassion” to man, pardoning him for his sin and accepting of his humble heart as a whole burnt offering. As aforementioned, God is “slow to anger,” or in other words, patient with sinful man, waiting great lengths for man’s repentance. All of His dealings with man are founded in His “lovingkindness.” The word hesed (translated here as lovingkindness) connotes God’s covenantal love and commitment to man, despite man’s iniquity and shortcomings. Of the most blessed nature, God is “relenting of evil.” In other words God forgives those who are repentant and contrite. Man may rejoice in God because He is willing to forgive and may therefore approach His throne in boldness and confidence.
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