Notice the pattern in the first two chapters of Joel. A plague of locust was followed by a call to repentance. A more terrible day of the Lord is now followed by a call to repentance. Remember that repentance is much more than simply admitting the wrong. The Hebrew word “shuv” means “to repent, to return, to turn.” This repentance is not only confessing sins, but turning away from them and returning to the faith relationship with Him.
As mighty as God’s judgment is, his love is even greater. Verse 13 reminds us that he is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” This ties back to Exodus 20, where we read that the punishment for those who do not keep the commandments will be to the third or fourth generation, yet the mercy will be shown to a thousand generation of those who love the Lord.
The purpose of God’s judgment is to lead people to repent, to turn back to God, and to trust in Him above all things. Maybe during this time of difficulty, with the horrible weather in the south, the earthquake in Japan, the economy teetering on the brink of disaster, maybe not would be a good time for all of us to come to a time of repentance, to return our hearts to our God.