The day of the LORD is great; it stirs up great fear — who can endure it?
Change your hearts. Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow; tear your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive.
Joel 2:11b-13 CEB
Joel continues the theme regarding "The Day of the LORD".
This day of great judgment is coming and all we caught in it.
Fear of this day was great and growing. Joel asks, "Who will endure it?"
Perhaps, the question should have been, "How will you endure it?"
God answers with peculiar words "tear your hearts and not your clothes."
In those days, you will tear your clothes as a sign of your sorrow or repentance (change). Many would use this sign as a public "proof" that they had changed, but reality was they acted no differently
To make even more understandable, you will not be able to 'work' your way out of this pending judgment - the only way to endure is to change your heart. Or this would be another way of saying we are saved by faith and not by works. Or this would be "don't just day your sorry, but really mean it."
Has your heart been changed or are your still piling up torn garments?
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