Joel 2:12-17

The Lord's Invitation to repent -- Joel 2:12-17: At that moment it was not too late for the people to return to the Lord with all their heart and to cry in repentance to him. They were told to fast and pray. Joel said, "Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." (Joel 2:13) Their hope for enjoying God's blessings was for them to turn back to Him. If they would repent they could have sufficient grain and wine for offering sacrifices.

Joel again called on the people to sound the trumpet on Zion! They were to call a solemn assembly with fasting and prayer to show their sincerity to God. Everyone, adults, children, babies, and even newlyweds were to assemble before the Almighty. False worship to the sun god had taken place "between the porch and the altar." (Ezekiel 8:16) Now the priests were commanded to cry out at that very place for truth. They were to ask God to save His people and help them to not be a laughing stock before the nations.