Ash Wednesday--Rend Your Heart

[msethsmile]

In ancient times people would rend (tear) their garments as a sign of anguish. So much so, they made special garments with thread/string in the neck area that was meant to be torn and then easily repaired...(too easy)

Joel 2:12-13

Rend Your Heart

¹² “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

¹³ Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.


Isaiah 53:4-5 (The Suffering Servant chapter)

Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.


---700 years before Christ and Isaiah points directly to the cross.

v. 12 "all"--there is not enough room in man's heart (The Temple of the Holy Spirit) for two or more gods. Only room for One.

v. 13b --safety with God and not destruction (which is what we deserve)

[msethsmile]

Based on Isaiah 53, "Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted"

v.3

Ye who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'Tis the WORD, the LORD'S ANOINTED,
Son of Man and Son of God.