Felt repentance versus formal regrets
Exegetical note: The context for Joel's prophesies is a plague of locusts, which he interprets as a sign of God's approaching judgment ("the day of the Lord"), and takes as an opportunity to call the people to repent and return to their "gracious and merciful" God. The methods that he commends are public and traditional rituals: fasting, weeping, and mourning. But he insists that these acts reflect a deeply felt repentance (i.e., of "torn hearts") rather than a merely formal expression of regrets (e.g., with "torn garments").
Call to Worship
Leader: