“Yet even now,” declares Yahweh, ‘Return to Me with all your heart and with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and tear your heart and not your garments’” (Joel 2:13).
There is a time to tear things up (Eccles. 3:7).
In the early 2000s, I attended a conference with a young man whom I was discipling. During worship, he became so overwhelmed by the reality of God that he was moved to make some major life changes. Upon returning to our hotel room, the teenager immediately tore open his backpack, found his media player, and located all his copies of demonic secular songs. One by one, he declared that he was done with their influence, and proceeded to destroy every one of them.
His actions bring to memory the historic account of many radically saved sorcerers from Ephesus demonstrating their faith by burning their incantation books after they received the Gospel (Acts 19:19). They openly professed their faith by ripping up the expensive manuscripts. Now despising their contents, they forever muted their wicked words in the flames.
Frequently in the Scriptures, worshippers of God rend things. Elisha, the son of a wealthy farmer, was given the opportunity to be the apprentice to Elijah, the iconic prophet of Israel. As the cloak fell on his shoulders, the resolute Elisha headed home to say farewell forever to his family and livelihood. Immediately this former farmer gathered everyone together for a worship service. Then he chopped up his plowing equipment, used the device for firewood fuel, and sacrificed his own expensive work animals on the altar (1 Kings 19:19-21). This was a dramatic declaration! In our society, this kind of action would be the equivalent of a full-time agricultural equipment operator blowing up his tractor. He shredded his security, giving himself no option to return to his former life. He did not leave anything around to tempt him to run home when his ministry became difficult. He boldly stepped into the new life God had for him.
Picture Boxes
Worship is our moment to tear things up. It is our chance to rend our hearts before God. This “rending” is a critical element of worship. It is the essential part of praise, where God allows us the opportunity to search our hearts and replace the ugly areas with more of Him. It is a time to say goodbye to who we once were and be the new creation He meant for us to be.
For example, when a newly married man commits himself to the newfound love of his life, his beautiful bride, he can no longer harbor pictures of a past girlfriend. If he genuinely loves his spouse, he will tear those images up. Likewise, worship is our time to let the Holy Spirit take us through the picture boxes of our heart. It is our opportunity to destroy the various “photographs of our past” that we once allowed to define us, putting on the new person that we are coming to be in Jesus.
For example, when a newly married man commits himself to the newfound love of his life, his beautiful bride, he can no longer harbor pictures of a past girlfriend. If he genuinely loves his spouse, he will tear those images up. Likewise, worship is our time to let the Holy Spirit take us through the picture boxes of our heart. It is our opportunity to destroy the various “photographs of our past” that we once allowed to define us, putting on the new person that we are coming to be in Jesus.
Worship as Purification
God knows that times of cleansing are important for our faith to flourish. That is why He established multiple opportunities for His people to worship. In the culture of ancient Israel, God prescribed seven festivals for the worship of their Lord. Imagine if today’s followers of Christ attended seven weeklong worship conferences every year! Imagine the opportunities we would have to grow in Him if we separated ourselves from ordinary daily life that often, dedicating time to repent of sins and seek His face.
Moreover, the Lord’s chosen people were given monthly celebrations to pursue God. They were even blessed with Sabbath rest days to put aside distractions and worship Yahweh. If that was not enough, morning and evening services were available every day at the temple in Jerusalem to come before the presence of the Lord.
Now this begs the question, “Why did God grant Israel so many moments to come and meet with Him in corporate worship?” The reason is not that He needs it but rather that we need it.
Think about it. God is not starved of worship. He has angels praising Him all day long! Rather, He is aware that we are a people who often need refreshing. Like children who get dirty playing outside and thus require regular baths to stay healthy, God knows His children need frequent refreshing. We need reminders of His Grace, we need to hear His Words, and we need to be cleansed by His Power to renew us.
In Jesus, we have constant cleansing power to purify us from all sin. Times of worship grant us opportunities to implement this reality into our everyday lives. As we break out of our ordinary routine to seek Him, God has more occasions to sanctify us.
Moreover, the Lord’s chosen people were given monthly celebrations to pursue God. They were even blessed with Sabbath rest days to put aside distractions and worship Yahweh. If that was not enough, morning and evening services were available every day at the temple in Jerusalem to come before the presence of the Lord.
Now this begs the question, “Why did God grant Israel so many moments to come and meet with Him in corporate worship?” The reason is not that He needs it but rather that we need it.
Think about it. God is not starved of worship. He has angels praising Him all day long! Rather, He is aware that we are a people who often need refreshing. Like children who get dirty playing outside and thus require regular baths to stay healthy, God knows His children need frequent refreshing. We need reminders of His Grace, we need to hear His Words, and we need to be cleansed by His Power to renew us.
In Jesus, we have constant cleansing power to purify us from all sin. Times of worship grant us opportunities to implement this reality into our everyday lives. As we break out of our ordinary routine to seek Him, God has more occasions to sanctify us.
Rending Our Garments
In Biblical times, the greatest expression of distress was the rending of one’s garments. Ripping up your clothes was a big deal. For one, clothing was much more expensive in the ancient world. It was not like today, when clothing is mass-produced and readily accessible for minimal cost. In those times, the process of hand-stitching and weaving was tedious and costly. In fact, on various occasions throughout the Bible, sets of clothes were offered as extravagant gifts alongside items like gold or silver. Ruining one’s clothing intentionally was as extreme an action as keying your own car!
For another, rending attire was an act of humility. Covering oneself with tatters was equating oneself to a slave or beggar. It was an intentional choice to symbolically cast off all pride in oneself.
Yet God is less concerned with our outward expressions of worship, whether they be the rending of clothes or the offering of sacrifices. What He expressly desires is our hearts (Joel 2:13). It is a heart broken for Him that He can work with: a contrite heart, desperate to be purified by Him. Let us therefore take advantage of each time we come before Him in worship. May we each rend our heart before our gracious God and allow Him to make us whole.
For another, rending attire was an act of humility. Covering oneself with tatters was equating oneself to a slave or beggar. It was an intentional choice to symbolically cast off all pride in oneself.
Yet God is less concerned with our outward expressions of worship, whether they be the rending of clothes or the offering of sacrifices. What He expressly desires is our hearts (Joel 2:13). It is a heart broken for Him that He can work with: a contrite heart, desperate to be purified by Him. Let us therefore take advantage of each time we come before Him in worship. May we each rend our heart before our gracious God and allow Him to make us whole.
About The Author
TRAVIS LEE
Evangelical | Historic Premillennialism
Travis Lee is a Nashville recording artist and ordained minister of Hope Church in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. He founded Faithwalk Ministries in 2009 and has authored several books including DEEPER: Launching a Faithwalk with God and the children’s book series entitled Adventures of Fred and Sylvia. The Travis Lee Band currently tours the United States and abroad teaching God’s Word at churches, recovery groups, and prisons. Travis and his wife Allegra, minister together and travel with their six young children, Arrow, Sabre, Scythe, Lance, Dagger, and Mace.
Evangelical | Historic Premillennialism
Travis Lee is a Nashville recording artist and ordained minister of Hope Church in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. He founded Faithwalk Ministries in 2009 and has authored several books including DEEPER: Launching a Faithwalk with God and the children’s book series entitled Adventures of Fred and Sylvia. The Travis Lee Band currently tours the United States and abroad teaching God’s Word at churches, recovery groups, and prisons. Travis and his wife Allegra, minister together and travel with their six young children, Arrow, Sabre, Scythe, Lance, Dagger, and Mace.
