September 21 - Joel 1-3
As I read Joel again this morning, I was amazed by the inspiration of the Bible. The Lord is able to say so much in such a short book, and it is said so perfectly. I pray that Joel's' prophecy was a blessing to you and that it spoke directly to your heart.
Joel begins with a devastating word picture. He gives the picture of the Land of Judah totally consumed by a locust invasion. That might be hard for us to imagine, because we have probably not seen such an event, but the children of Israel knew just what he was saying. There was nothing left after the stages of the locusts had come through the land, and there would be nothing left after the Babylonians came through the land. I believe this word picture was an attempt to awaken the people of God to the danger that was ahead, so they would repent of their sin. Unfortunately, that did not happen then. We might ask ourselves today, "What will it take to awaken God's people to action now?" I believe we should be crying out to God for our country right now.
Then, Joel extends the call for the people to mourn before God individually and as a group. (1:8,14; 2:15-17) He knows that is their only hope as the Day of the Lord approaches. What is the Day of the Lord? It is a Day of judgment. Judah was about to face the Day of the Lord as Babylon came to carry out God's judgment on them. Then, at the end of time, we will all experience the ultimate Day of the Lord at The Judgment Day, when everyone will stand before the Lord. The book of Joel has references to both of these times. All of the judgment times in our lives and in the lives of nations are leading up to that ultimate judgment, and they are designed to get us ready for it. How are you doing? Are you ready to stand before God? I hope you are, because it will happen.
The end of the book is totally different from the beginning. There is abundance at the end. The people are joyful. God has restored the things eaten by the locusts. How did this happen? The people did repent and turn back to God. When they did, God responded by pouring out His Spirit on them. You may have noticed the passage that Peter quoted on Pentecost in Acts 2. (3:28-32) I believe that passage did apply to Pentecost, but it will also happen at the end when all Israel turns to the Lord during the time of the Great Tribulation. It is a spiritual truth or reality. When a person or a group of people turn to the Lord fully, God fills them with His Spirit fully. Isn't that what all of us need all of the time? That is what God wants for us. He will do it, if we keep our hearts yielded to Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Amos 1-3.
Joel begins with a devastating word picture. He gives the picture of the Land of Judah totally consumed by a locust invasion. That might be hard for us to imagine, because we have probably not seen such an event, but the children of Israel knew just what he was saying. There was nothing left after the stages of the locusts had come through the land, and there would be nothing left after the Babylonians came through the land. I believe this word picture was an attempt to awaken the people of God to the danger that was ahead, so they would repent of their sin. Unfortunately, that did not happen then. We might ask ourselves today, "What will it take to awaken God's people to action now?" I believe we should be crying out to God for our country right now.
Then, Joel extends the call for the people to mourn before God individually and as a group. (1:8,14; 2:15-17) He knows that is their only hope as the Day of the Lord approaches. What is the Day of the Lord? It is a Day of judgment. Judah was about to face the Day of the Lord as Babylon came to carry out God's judgment on them. Then, at the end of time, we will all experience the ultimate Day of the Lord at The Judgment Day, when everyone will stand before the Lord. The book of Joel has references to both of these times. All of the judgment times in our lives and in the lives of nations are leading up to that ultimate judgment, and they are designed to get us ready for it. How are you doing? Are you ready to stand before God? I hope you are, because it will happen.
The end of the book is totally different from the beginning. There is abundance at the end. The people are joyful. God has restored the things eaten by the locusts. How did this happen? The people did repent and turn back to God. When they did, God responded by pouring out His Spirit on them. You may have noticed the passage that Peter quoted on Pentecost in Acts 2. (3:28-32) I believe that passage did apply to Pentecost, but it will also happen at the end when all Israel turns to the Lord during the time of the Great Tribulation. It is a spiritual truth or reality. When a person or a group of people turn to the Lord fully, God fills them with His Spirit fully. Isn't that what all of us need all of the time? That is what God wants for us. He will do it, if we keep our hearts yielded to Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Amos 1-3.