TEAR YOUR HEART AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS.
Joel 2.13
13.”And rend (tear) your heart and not your garments.' Now return to the Lord your GOD, He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindness, and relenting of evil.”
“Tear your heart.” Under this context it means true repentance, from the heart, deep regret, sorrow, disappointment, remorse, and apology to the Lord GOD.
The second part of this verse, “and not your garments,” means to be regretful, sorrowful, repentant, and humble before GOD and people not for a show and as theatrical fake gesture, but from your own soul with appropriate emotions.
It was a noticeable custom in Israel when a person during a certain suffering, ordeal, or distress in his soul tears his garment in a rage of anger or in deep sorrow. This is not always had been done from the heart.
Israelites numerous times made promises to their GOD and tear their garments in their distress, as apology and sorrow for their disobedience and sins, and promised to their GOD to change and to follow only Him, but it was short lived and they quickly forgot oaths and promises to their Lord, because it was not done from their soul.
So these words of Joel reminded Israelites about their spiritual connection to GOD, and not connection to Him by their physical rituals and sacrifices.
It is very similar to the words of GOD that He said to them previously, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” which means GOD desires from His followers more spiritual qualities of love, mercy, compassion, sympathy, justice, and consideration toward one another and obedience toward Him, instead of only physical ritual and sacrifices.
“I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (1Samuel 15.22) (Psalm 50.13-14.23, 51.16-17) (Proverbs 21.3.27) (Ecclesiastes 5.1) (Hosea 6.6) (Isaiah 1.11-20) (Jeremiah 6.20) (Amos 5.21-24) (Micah 6.6-8) (Zechariah 7.2-4.9-10) (Matthew 9.13, 12.7, 23.23) (Mark 12.32-33).
In other words GOD desire in people to be more spiritual and not only fleshly physical, to follow the best spiritual attributes of their soul in GOD, instead of their physical rituals and physical customs.
In GOD’S desire and in His eyes spirituality always comes first and much more precious and important than anything physical, because GOD is the Spirit and must be worshiped and served in spirit, in true faith, love, and in obedience to His Statutes and Commandments.
Joel 2.13
13.”And rend (tear) your heart and not your garments.' Now return to the Lord your GOD, He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindness, and relenting of evil.”
“Tear your heart.” Under this context it means true repentance, from the heart, deep regret, sorrow, disappointment, remorse, and apology to the Lord GOD.
The second part of this verse, “and not your garments,” means to be regretful, sorrowful, repentant, and humble before GOD and people not for a show and as theatrical fake gesture, but from your own soul with appropriate emotions.
It was a noticeable custom in Israel when a person during a certain suffering, ordeal, or distress in his soul tears his garment in a rage of anger or in deep sorrow. This is not always had been done from the heart.
Israelites numerous times made promises to their GOD and tear their garments in their distress, as apology and sorrow for their disobedience and sins, and promised to their GOD to change and to follow only Him, but it was short lived and they quickly forgot oaths and promises to their Lord, because it was not done from their soul.
So these words of Joel reminded Israelites about their spiritual connection to GOD, and not connection to Him by their physical rituals and sacrifices.
It is very similar to the words of GOD that He said to them previously, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” which means GOD desires from His followers more spiritual qualities of love, mercy, compassion, sympathy, justice, and consideration toward one another and obedience toward Him, instead of only physical ritual and sacrifices.
“I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (1Samuel 15.22) (Psalm 50.13-14.23, 51.16-17) (Proverbs 21.3.27) (Ecclesiastes 5.1) (Hosea 6.6) (Isaiah 1.11-20) (Jeremiah 6.20) (Amos 5.21-24) (Micah 6.6-8) (Zechariah 7.2-4.9-10) (Matthew 9.13, 12.7, 23.23) (Mark 12.32-33).
In other words GOD desire in people to be more spiritual and not only fleshly physical, to follow the best spiritual attributes of their soul in GOD, instead of their physical rituals and physical customs.
In GOD’S desire and in His eyes spirituality always comes first and much more precious and important than anything physical, because GOD is the Spirit and must be worshiped and served in spirit, in true faith, love, and in obedience to His Statutes and Commandments.