Simultaneous

Whole-hearted people desperately want to follow broken hearted leaders.

The condition of the heart is a common theme throughout the Bible, particularly through the Old Testament. The heart was the center of all human activity. In Hebrew, the word for heart is LEB. I want to demonstrate something cool about the word. I want this side of the room to say LEB and then I want this side to say LEB. Do this.

What did you notice? Did you notice that when you say the words really fast, it sounded like a heart beat. In the book of Nehemiah, Chapter 2, we read this:

Nehemiah 2:1–2 (HCSB)

During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence,

so the king said to me, “Why are you sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.” I was overwhelmed with fear

What the king said to Nehemiah was this - you have sadness of heart, you’re heart is broken, but you don’t seem to have a reason to have such sadness. Except that maybe you know that the wine is poisoned and I’m going to die. The King wasn’t actually concerned about Nehemiah, he was concerned with protecting his own life.

Fast forward to the book of Joel, and we’re going to see another picture of the heart.

Joel 2:12–14 (HCSB)

Even now— this is the Lord’s declaration— turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster.

Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, so you can offer grain and wine to the Lord your God.

Notice how God calls the Israelites -

He sets Himself as the leader and they as the follower.

turn to Me with ALL your heart. God is declaring that His people must be whole hearted followers. Totally devoted, totally committed to His leading.

Why was God declaring that His people turn to Him with their whole hearts? Because His heart was broken over their impending judgment!

Think of the balance of God - He can simultaneously hold us in His almighty Hand, He can bring us safely through storms, He can make straight the way, all while never crushing us while we find rest and refuge in that Hand.

God tells Joel - you gotta tell these people about who I am. They’ve forgotten!

In the context of Israel’s history, the next plagues they were familiar with were the final plagues of darkness, but they also knew God as the one who delivered them through the Red Sea.

God does not desire judgment, but He is a holy and just God.

What God desires is for His people to have a heartbeat that reflects His love for humanity, a heartbeat that is in sync with His character and vision for humanity, but also a heart that also breaks for His people’s worship.

Oh, but look at God!

Joel 2:14 HCSB

Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, so you can offer grain and wine to the Lord your God.

God ain’t hard to find a Valentine for friends!

What does that lead to? Whole-hearted pursuit of a broken hearted God!

The passion-filled prayers of BROKEN-HEARTED leaders becomes the very thing that has potential to bring WHOLE-HEARTED repentance. Here, God sees Joel and the priest of Israel as His leaders. How about you? If you’re here, you’re a leader, but you’re also a follower.

Look at the simultaneous things we see about God and ourselves in this story:

He has a simultaneous broken heart and a heart full of compassion

He is simultaneously rich in faithful love and full of judgment.

We are simultaneously called to turn with all our hearts and to tear our hearts, only to be filled with God’s compassion.

We are simultaneously called to weep and mourn and to receive the blessing of worshipping the King of Grace.

What can we give God this Valentine’s Day?

Forget cards, chocolate, flowers, and musical tickets.

Let’s give our whole hearts to the God.

If you’re heart is broken today, hear the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 34:18

Psalm 34:18 HCSB

The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.

In our weakness, He is strong.