Rend Our Hearts, O God!

TEXT: Joel 2:12-17

TOPIC: Rend Our Hearts, O God

Pastor Bobby Earls, Northgate Baptist Church, Florence, SC

Sunday morning, August 22, 2021

World events continue to tear at our hearts over the past few weeks. Not only is the new Covid strains infecting more and more people around our nation and the world, but terrible earthquake that hit the tiny nation of Haiti has claimed more than 2,200 lives. Then there are the horrible scenes that are playing out in Afghanistan. After U.S. forces left, the aggressive Muslim group known as the Taliban have seized control of most of the country. Afghani citizens in an attempt to flee to safety were seen climbing atop American DC9 airplanes and clinging on the wings and tops of the planes as they took off. But then in horror we watched as they fell from the planes in midair to their death.

Little sense, if any, is made of such tragic events. Just this past week at a High School in Orangeburg, SC, three students were shot while waiting to board their bus. Thankfully, none were killed.

How and why do such things happen? Most important, what can we do about it?

Some of you may recall the words of former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno following a school shooting during her term in office. She said, “There’s no one answer,” referring to the school shootings. I believe God has an answer!

In the year 835 B.C., the prophet Joel, had a word from God for the people of his day, for the nation of Israel.

(Read Joel 2:12-17, NKJV)

12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 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. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; 16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. 17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”

Many years ago now, James Dobson, Christian Psychologist and founder of the nationally syndicated radio program, “Focus on the Family,” stated, “America is in a moral free fall. Every fiber of morality and Judeo-Christian ethic is being questioned and attacked from society, Satan’s kingdom and even within the church. The result is social confusion, spiritual disillusionment and moral decay and imminent collapse.”

As we will see from the book of Joel, God has an answer for such a time as this, if we will be careful to receive it and courageous to carry it out.

I. THE BACKGROUNDTO THE BOOK OF JOEL

1. Joel prophesied during the reign of King Uzziah.

2. Israel had experienced tremendous prosperity and military prowess under Uzziah.

3. Response of the people and the priesthood of Uzziah’s reign was one of careless ease.

4. In chapter 1, God rebukes

· the drunkards,

· the farmers

· the priesthood

5. The parallel for our day would be:

· those who live frivolous, carefree, selfish, worldly lifestyles

· The commerce and business leaders of the day

· The church

6. As a result, there was a three-fold curse placed on Israel.

· The King had leprosy (leprosy was a sign of divine punishment)

The leprosy of our day can be found from the White House to the schoolhouse to the church house. Most Americans have very little confidence in the moral integrity and the leadership of our political leaders today.

Many of our schools struggle to maintain discipline and to teach the foundational core of education to our students.

I was told just this past week of two churches that were scandalized by their pastors’ marital infidelity.

· The crops were being eaten by locusts

Joel 1:6 A nation has invaded my land, powerful and without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a fierce lion.

COVID, the National Debt, violence, broken homes, disease, promiscuity, perversion, drugs, alcoholism, abuse, crime……where do I stop?

· The blessing of God had departed from His house

Joel 1:16 Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, [yea], joy and gladness from the house of our God? (KJV)

The church in general is lacking a true manifestation of God’s presence and blessing. In many of our churches every thing that goes on happens apart from the anointing and blessing of God. In other words, we could do most of what we do in the church today without God’s presence and power.

II. GOD’S ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEM, Joel 2:12-13

12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 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.

1. God’s remedy for Israel’s sin, recorded in Joel 2:12 is the only remedy for America today.

2. God’s answer is for us to return. To return with all our heart. To return with prayer and fasting. To return with weeping and mourning.

3. If the circumstances of our day aren’t enough to make us return to God with weeping and mourning, I don’t know what will.

4. Notice several things about how we are to return to God:

· Return requires an intense inwardness, “rend your heart” With a torn and broken heart, return. With a heart that has been bruised, and battered and crushed, return. This phrase indicates more than just the physical organ of life. The biblical heart refers to the entire force of our moral purpose. It is your heart of affection, of intellect, of will, and moral purpose.

· Return requires an inward reality, and not just an outward ceremony, “rend your heart, and not your garments.” In the biblical world to tear one’s garments expressed exceptional emotion on the occasion of overwhelming misfortune.

Jacob tore his garments when he thought his son Joseph had been slain.

Joshua and Caleb tore their garments at the lost opportunity to enter the promised land.

David and his army tore their clothes when they heard of the death of Saul and Jonathan.

To rip one’s garments is an impressive act of intensity, but the prophet calls for more intensity than that. We must rend our hard hearts and crack them open so God can penetrate them. God returns to a broken and crushed heart.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

· Return does indeed involve an outwardness in behavior. Return to God with “fasting and weeping and mourning.” v. 12.

In the midst of all the bad, I’ve got good news today. When man repents, God relents. The promise of God is that if we return to Him, He will return to us. Your first step back to God must begin with a broken heart. Rend our hearts, O God.