Sweet Repentance !

The Book of Joel is a marvelous picture of the blessedness of repentance.  The people of Judah had seen devastation unlike anything they had ever experienced.  A massive swarm of locust had devoured the land.  In a short span of time all vegetation; crops, pasturelands and trees were utterly destroyed.  Famine and drought fell upon the land within hours.  In accordance with Deuteronomy 28:38-46, Joel declared that it was because of the disobedience of God’s people that they experienced such a trial.  Their disobedience moved them from underneath the umbrella of God’s protection. And the Lord cried out to them,

     "Now, therefore," says the Lord, "Turn to Me with all your heart…

     ..so rend  your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord

     your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of

     great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.     Joel 2:12 - 13

I have seen in my lifetime that it is a blessing when the Lord’s chastisement is swift.  It’s a blessing also when I quickly respond with repentance.   I’ve seen that the slower one is to repent, the greater the harm experienced from disobedience.  Simply put, slower repentance - greater pain.  The consequence that resulted from the people of Judah’s sin was severe.  And in the midst of utter ruin, God is pleading for His people to turn to Him.  He asks, ‘Rend your heart, and not your garment’.  He’s asking for an inward tearing away from the old ways of selfishness and fleshly desires.  He’s asking that we follow His commands and stop relying on our way of thinking and doing.  He’s asking for a sincere desire to change.  He’s asking for a commitment.  How many times do we acknowledge that we need to make changes, but fall short of a steadfast ‘heart’ commitment to change?  He asks, while at the same time reminding us with such gentleness, that He’s on our side and that He wants to bless us.

But the story of repentance gets even better.  Our God is so great, that no matter the devastation that comes through disobedience, through repentance, He is able to restore.  Supernatural restoration!

"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame.      Joel 2:25 - 26

And could the story of repentance get better still, yes it can and it does! Repent of your sins, turn towards Him, He’ll rebuild your life and give you the greatest gift of all…….His Holy Spirit!

     'Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord
     your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to
     shame. "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out
     My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall
     prophesy,Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall
     see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
     I will pour out My Spirit in those days.           Joel  2:27 - 29

Oh!, the sweetness of repentance.  Here’s the promise –

And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.                                                                            Joel 2:32     

Be blessed!