Rend your heart and not your garments.
—Joel 2:13
The nation of Judah was experiencing an agricultural disaster. Locusts were demolishing their crops. The prophet Joel warned them that the worst was yet to come. Unless they repented!
They could turn this catastrophe around, for God delights in showing mercy, erasing calamity with compassion when the rebellious repent and return to him: “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity” (Joel 2:13b).
Repentance is not outward show, but inner sorrow—a change of heart.
“You do not delight in sacrifice,” said David, “or I would bring it . . . The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps 51:16–17).
Repentance brings renewal of life.