March 1st is Ash Wednesday, the start of the approximately 40 day period of repentance prior to Easter. Of the several Scripture selections from the lectionary for Ash Wednesday, I selected this one from the Book of Joel.
As this portion of Scripture opens, the Prophet Joel brings a strong message from Yahweh to the people. This message is so important that Joel says in verse 1, the trumpets need to be sounded out. Trumpets were sounded for special occasions, such as holy days, or, as in this case, to sound a warning. His message here was a warning from God to His people. They were to stop everything and listen up. When God speaks, especially with a warning message, we need to take special notice, listen, and then obey what He says.
What is this important message that merited the blowing of the trumpets? Verses 12-17 give the answer to that. For centuries the nation of Judah had waffled back and forth from worshipping Yahweh, the true God, and worshipping false gods. The people also had frequently strayed away from God’s laws. “Blow the trumpet”, God says in verse 12. “Turn to Me with all of your heart.”
A key phrase is “with all of your heart”. As God continues to speak, He tells the people, in verse 13, that they need true repentance, not just an outward show. Many people liked to make a big show of pretend piety, such as tearing their clothes, which was a common show of sorrow in ancient times. God said that this meant nothing to Him if there was no true repentance in the heart.
If His people have a true change of heart, truly returning to Him, God promises He will forgive and show mercy, as shown in verse 14. Blow those trumpets again, verse 15, calling for both a personal and corporate repentance and fasting. If our repentance is true, then God will honor those outward signs, such as fasting, and forgive them. If they would not truly turn to Him, there would be judgment. Throughout this short Book of Joel, he speaks of judgment that God was bringing on the people.
This is still a timely warning for us today. How is our heart? Is our piety just an outward show, to give others an impression that we are “such good Christians”, but our heart has not really been touched by, or turned to, God? God is not impressed by giving up chocolate, favorite TV shows, or ice cream during Lent if there is no true repentance. Repentance is going from one direction, away from God, and then making a 180 degree turn around, and then start heading His way. This is what God is calling for us to do, not just public “play-acting”.
Let the ashes this Ash Wednesday be a real, true sign of turning our hearts to God. That is what He wants - our heart. As the saying goes, our actions speak louder than our words. Let both be truly turned to Him, as He sounds the trumpet for us today.
Very insightful sharing as we enter the Lenten season.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah. I especially wonder about those "sacrifices " you mention that seem purely physical, but have no meaning in our hearts. I love the time of Lent as it reminds us of His sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteThe Lenten season is actually 46 days because there was no fasting on the Sabbath (our Sunday). Good devotional.
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