Rend your heart and not your garments. 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 2:13
I don’t know about you, but I’m familiar with the word render, which sort of means to make, but less so the word rend, almost it’s complete opposite. Granted Rend Collective is one of our family’s favorite bands, and yet it’s still not a word I’ve focused on. Until this week, when it popped up in my daily reading. And ooh friend, it gave me chills.
In the Joel scenario, Israel is in trouble, with the land being destroyed by locusts. And I don’t mean a few annoying nibbles. God’s people are facing an invasion, bringing wave after wave of the insects meaning their means of survival is completely decimated. Joel is calling for his fellow citizens to mourn, and repent (he’s not clear on what they’ve done to be in so much trouble).
Rend is a powerful little word with a lot of energy. The synonyms are intimidating – tear, slash, splinter, rip (to pieces), gash, slash, disintegrate, rive… you get the idea. The custom of the time was to tear one’s garments when mourning, of an outward sign of grief and sorrow. But here, Joel wants more. He’s calling for his people to tear their hearts and return to the Lord. Obviously, he’s being figurative. We need hearts that beat, in order to live. What he wants is not just the outward appearance of grief, but the inward facing work, before the Israelites are back in alignment with the Lord.
Have you ever been consumed by guilt at something that separated you from God, or from doing his work? Perhaps you let little things build up into a wall, or minor distractions steal the focus that should be on the Lord. Have you said yes to something good, that pulled you away from what you’re called to do? Then it’s time to draw a line in the sand. Rend your heart. Get on your knees, literally or figuratively. Ask forgiveness and turn away from that activity and put your eyes on Him. Because the alternative is a spiritual invasion of locusts. They won’t be after your vegetable garden, but your source of life eternal.
Now you’re probably a little baffled that Debb got her preach on, pulled out her Bible and smacked you with it. Friend, I am speaking into a mirror. Just lately, my discipline and timekeeping have been awful. I’ve allowed some things to pull me from my focus on the work God has for me. But enough. I’m with Joel and I’m drawing my line. I feel rotten about this lack of care. So I am rending my heart (sur-REND-ering) with repentance and returning to God in my day today. Who’s with me?
Meet Debb…
I’m a military wife, mom to two teenage girls, Young Lifer, worship leader, baker and poor but ardent skier. I bleed green and gold (go Pack) and love Jesus. I’ve written a Bible study for military wives and I’m working hard on a contemporary romance series.
If you’d like a great book on writing I helped with, here’s the link...
And you can find more Word on Wednesdays here…
Thanks, Debb. I needed this today. I need to sur-rend-der my heart and 1. ask “Where are You taking me?” Instead of “Why is this happening?” about some things. (Been watching The Baxters and that shift in focus also hit me today.) And 2. Need to repent and rend my heart over my attitude.
Thank you! Blessings!
I love this. All of it. That shift in focus is so key, isn’t it? And we are very sad because we’re at season 3 episode 11 and don’t want to watch the last one (I’ve read them all so know what’s coming, but my girls are bereft!).
Amen! Render me speechless!!!!
Me too, friend, me too.
I’m with you, too. This is essentially what we talked about yesterday morning in our book study. I also love that rend is part of surrender. That sounds less painful yet every bit as important. Thanks for sharing your heart with us.
I hadn’t thought about that, but wow, so it is. You should be writing this, not me!!!
I am!! (insert enthusiastic smile, a heart, and praying hands here! 🙂 )
So lovely to see you here, friend. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m with you Debb &! So needed that word today- thank you 🙏
Me too, Mark. Thank you!
This, my friend, is perfectly timed! I have also been allowing good things to pull me away from the better things God asks of me. And it is a painful process to start paring down the commitments so I can be wholly focused on the one thing! Thank you for this strong reminder that rending will be involved in the process.
Holler if you need a cheerleader. Rending is hard work, but pays eternal dividends.