Peter Barnes | Joel 2:12-17
SERMON NOTES
REPENT AND BELIEVE
Joel 2:12-17
– Israel has suffered from a locust plague (Joel 1) and will suffer from a military invasion (Joel 2:1-11). Disasters usually subdue people for a time, and they might think about their relationship with God.
1. Repentance is to be whole-hearted.
– 2:12-13a. Ahab does not go far enough – 1 Kings 21:27; also Jer.3:10.
– for David’s repentance, see Ps.51:6, 10, 17. Matthew Henry says the hypocrite only repents ‘from the teeth outwards’, meaning only with his lips, nothing more. Note Psalm 119:2
2. Repentance is urgent.
– 2:15-16. There was a trumpet call in verse 1, and here is another in verse 15. See Luke 9:57-62.
– Hudson Taylor’s great grandfather was converted on his wedding day on 1 February 1776.
– Isa.55:6; 2 Cor.6:2.
3. Repentance looks to God’s character and God’s glory.
– for God’s character, see 2:13-14; Ex.34:6; Jonah 4:2.
– for God’s glory, see 2:17. ‘Bless us for the sake of Your glory.’
– ‘Repent and believe’ – from the heart, because it is urgent, but know that God’s character and His glory give us hope that in repentance and faith there is sin forgiven and life everlasting.