Rending garments and hearts

It was an ancient custom of expressing grief, anger, shock and sorrow. Its purpose was to serve as an outward display of inward emotions.

In that regard, it is interesting to see the message God had for the people of Judah through the prophet Joel: “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). Much like Isaiah would write later (Isaiah 1:11-17), the prophet Joel informed God’s people that God was interested in much more than outward indications of repentance and faith. God was—and still is—interested first and foremost in the condition of people’s hearts. God wants all to repent (2 Peter 3:9) and enjoy salvation through faith in Christ (1 Timothy 2:4).