The Lord is slow to anger
The Old Testament prophet Joel writes, “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.’ Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” (Joel 2:12-13)
Where had the people gone?
They abandoned the Lord by worshiping false gods and ignoring God’s Word.
Often the people continued to worship God and offer sacrifices, but many times they simply went through the motions of sacrifices apart from faith which clings to the promise of forgiveness in those sacrifices. The Lord says in Hosea 6:6, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice.”
Idol worship often came in subtly. When the kings of Israel introduced idol worship, it was usually for political reasons such as marriage alliances as happened with Solomon.
The Israelites also often mixed in the worship of Baal, Molech, and other gods. Over time, the people began to build altars to these false gods and offer sacrifices. Eventually they began making human sacrifices to these false gods. So, they failed in the greatest commandment: to love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
They also failed in the next great commandment: to love their neighbors as themselves. The people of Israel continually abused one another, selfishly seeking to promote their own self-interest. Instead of justice, they showed preferential treatment. They ignored the fatherless and the widows. They didn’t treat the poor and the vulnerable with love and respect.
The people would commit their heinous acts, go and make sacrifice, and act as though everything was okay. In reality they failed to love God, and they failed to love one another.
Is there anything new under the sun?
The prophet Joel calls people to return to the Lord, to turn away from their false worship and their false beliefs, and to turn away from the injustice of their brothers and sisters.
Joel calls upon people to return to the Lord. God is gracious and merciful. He shows undeserved favor and mercy to sinners as He washes sins away. He is slow to anger. Numerous times He patiently called Israel to repentance. He relents of disaster. He doesn’t desire the death of the sinner, but that the sinner turns to Him for forgiveness and lives. Nevertheless the time for judgment looms. The Old Testament people of God continued in their rebellious ways and eventually went into exile in Babylon.
The Lord continues to be slow to anger. For sinners even today, the grace and mercy of God is still extended. The shed blood of Jesus on the cross washes away all sin. He bids sinners to come and find rest in His forgiveness. He bids sinners to come and take comfort in His salvation. He bids sinners to come and receive life from Him who is the Life of the world.
Travis E. Lauterbach is pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at Falcon Mesa Business Park, 350 Falcon Ridge Pkwy., Bldg. 600. Worship services are Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
