CRITICAL NOTES.]
Joel 2:12. Therefore] repent with heart undivided, and with fasting, for heinous sins demand extraordinary penitence. Mourning] Lit. beating on the breast, like the publican (Luke 18:13; Luke 23:48).
Joel 2:13. Not garments] as customary in great sorrow (Genesis 37:29; Job 1:20). External repentance will avail nothing (Psalms 51:19; Ezekiel 36:26).
Joel 2:14. Knoweth] if the least chance, secure it. God may restore blessings sufficient to maintain his worship and supply our wants (Jonah 3:9).
HOMILETICS
SPACE FOR PERSONAL REPENTANCE.—Joel 2:12-14
The design of chastisement is not destruction, but salvation. Mercy rejoiceth against judgment. The attainment of salvation is only by repentance and return to God. Hence the prophet in God’s name urges personal and national amendment. Personal repentance is described in these words.
I. Its nature. “Turn ye even to me.”
1. It is return to God. Return quite up to God, not half-way (Hosea 14:2). Half conversion, and half amendment will not avail. The whole distance must be overcome and God must be gained. Many are near to Christ, but not in him. All are alienated from God; and true reformation is not forsaking one habit to form another; changing one church or creed for another; but turning round in thought and feeling and coming to God.
2. It is a sincere return. It is real, not affected. “With all your heart.” The mind and affections have been stolen from God, now all are centred upon him. Outward expressions are worthless, mere trappings of sorrow. “Rend your heart and not your garments.” Partial feeling and feigned sorrow God will not accept. He requires truth in the inward parts. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
3. It is a sorrowful return. “With fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” There may not always be striking outward signs. But deep sorrow and contrition of spirit are accompanied with humiliation, self-denial, and prayer. The penitent weeps, mourns, and strikes his breast like the publican. Signs of grief often stir up the heart to more grief, and indicate to others the sincerity of conversion. Penitence must not be slight and superficial, but deep and real. “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”
II. Its motive. “For he is gracious and merciful,” &c. Hope of acceptance is held out. This hope is grounded on the gracious character of God, revealed on Sinai (Exodus 34:6-7), and reproduced here to encourage repentance.
1. God is gracious and merciful. Though mercy has been despised and grace abused, he delights not in the death of sinners, but wishes all to turn and live. If he were not merciful we could not hope for pardon; and if he were only merciful and not gracious we could not expect to receive anything from him.
2. God is slow to anger and of great kindness. He can be angry and deal out punishment, but he pauses, lingers long, and gives opportunity to escape. His kindness is beyond human pity. He is longsuffering under the greatest provocations (Psalms 103:15).
3. God repents of the evil. If he repents of the punishments inflicted, will they not be accepted when they repent and return? Evils are against his will, his strange work, therefore on the first tokens of sorrow he will take them away. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto them that call upon thee.”
4. God is a covenant God. “Turn unto the Lord your God.” They had turned away from God, but they were still his people. He is interested in their welfare, and unchangeable in his love and purpose. God must be approached as a covenant God. His Divine nature and mercy, his covenant relations and promises, are all brought forth to urge men to return unto him. His goodness and mercy never fail. “Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
III. Its necessity. “Therefore also now.” Now, though it be late it is not too late. Now, though the day is near and locusts are at hand. “Now is the day of grace, the visitation from God.” “Now or never.” Sinners should not delay. Time is precious, opportunities may not be given again. Repentance is a spiritual, a personal, an immediate duty. “Now is the accepted time, to-day is the day of salvation.” “God now commandeth all men everywhere to repentance.”
IV. Its possibility. “Who knoweth if he will return and repent,” &c. Judgments may be taken away, the meat-offering restored, and a blessing left behind. Space is given men for repentance. We are not to be too confident lest we be careless. But there is no doubt in the prophet’s mind. God will return. He never changes nor lies (1 Samuel 12:22). His favour is not like the shifting clouds, nor the winter’s sun casting occasional light, but withholding heat and joy. If we return to God he will return to us. “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of Hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Joel 2:12. Although all sorrow for sin hath not the same expression, nor the same degree of pungency and sensitive trouble, yet it is not a godly sorrow unless it really produces these effects, i.e.
(1) that it makes us really to hate and
(2) actually to decline sin; and
(3) produces in us a fear of God’s anger, a sense of the guilt of his displeasure;
(4) and then such consequent trouble as can consist with such apprehension of the Divine displeasure [Jeremy Taylor].
Repentance is—
1. A change of mind, a turning of the soul to God.
2. A real turning, not resting in shadows, not renting the mantle only, but the offering of the heart to God.
3. This is a personal duty. It cannot be done by representation or in the mass; but by each alone, the children alone, the parents alone, and the priests alone.
4. God will be satisfied with this, but with nothing less.
Joel 2:13. God’s character in its relation to our character and condition. Grace to the unworthy, mercy to the miserable, long-suffering to provocation, truth to the promise, and change towards the penitent. “Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion and gracious, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalms 86:15).
Joel 2:14. Prospects opened up by repentance.
1. Remission of temporal calamities.
2. Restoration of fruit and subsistence.
3. Spiritual blessings left behind dreadful curses. The storm will pass away and the sun will shine again; flowers and fruit shall come, birds shall sing, and joy and peace crown the land. “Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.”
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 2
Joel 2:12-14. Fasting and penitence. Men accused in times past were wont humbly to abase themselves before the judge, with long beards, uncombed hair, and black array, that they might secure his mercy. So when pestilence, famine, or war begin to rage, or any calamity hangs over us, it becomes us to present ourselves in piteous array, with fasting and prayer, before the Judge of all the earth, that his anger may be turned away from us [Cawdray]. But no amount of fasting will do without true penitence. Lifeless repentance is fruitless. No outward propriety and offerings will wash away the stain of sin. We must not only confess but forsake our sins and turn unto God. God will have mercy upon the penitent.
The fruitless showers of worldly woe
Fall dark to earth and never rise;
While tears that from repentance flow,
In bright exhalement reach the skies.