Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

What is the proper response to a holy God who is about to bring judgment on his people? And who should lead this response?

These are the questions that Joel dealt with in his day. He dealt with them by calling attention to the disaster at hand, the fact that his people had strayed from the Almighty God, and reminding the priests, the spiritual leaders, of their duty to lead the repentance of the people.

Sackcloth was a harsh material that irritated the skin. Ashes were smelly and dirty. This was a symbol of the broken state of a heart, torn over something. This could be a death in the family, the loss of great wealth, or the realization of and repentance from great sin.

The call is to mourn and wail over this sin. To physically embrace a look of mourning and to turn in repentance to God. There was still hope for the Israelites, but they needed to repent and do it quickly and completely. One judgment had already come on them (the swarms of locusts). Another was around the corner (likely a conquering army). And today, we also have a way back to health with God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

It could as easily be said of the overall church in the US. There is so much compromise in obeying God’s righteous commands. So much living for self. A culture that locks themselves in their houses in many parts of the country, not looking for the widow to help or the orphan to raise up. People not seeking to be a servant of all. Instead, many quote Biblical knowledge, as if it will save them.

And so Joel’s call is my call too. Leaders — repent of the superficial faith-building in your churches. Stop counting conversion prayers and baptisms, and start building disciples. Leave the counting to God.

Read Jesus’ final command to his disciples: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬)

There is no mention of counting conversion prayers here or baptisms. The focus is on making disciples. This is a life-modeling like a Rabbi modeled for his students. And showing them how to study God’s word, how to understand his commands and obey them. It is life-on-life mentoring in the faith. Preach the truth, sure. But the focus is on making disciples. When we model a life of wholeheartedly following Jesus, then his Spirit enables us to make disciples. And he gets the glory!

Lord, thank you for Joel’s cry to the leaders in his day to repent, to weep and wail, and to turn from their sin. You want us, as leaders of your flock, to do the same. Start in my heart and give me a heart of repentance for my sins and the sins of your people. Turn us back to a real relationship with you!