Old Testament - Joel 1-3 - November 11, 2022

11/11/2022 – Joel 1-3

Joel is a small book in the Old Testament…only three chapters long. But there is good reason why it is here. It teaches us about the power of the combination of prayers and fasting during very difficult times.  Joel also taught about the importance of repentance in our individual lives, for that is one of the things that the Lord promises will bring us closer to Him and His blessings. And Joel also prophesied about the coming “day of the Lord” (1:15), including the many signs that will come before His Second Coming.

I love how he starts: “Hear this, ye old men…”, because Bob and I have reached the “old men” category. But as I look in the foot notes, “old men” is referring to elders. Even knowing that, I will continue to think the Lord is speaking to us old folks…for our benefit, and hopefully, our children’s benefit. The Israelites have been going through a terrible drought and a plague of locusts. 

In the middle of drought and hunger for man and animals, Joel calls for a fast and “a solemn assembly”. (1:14) Fasting during a time of great hunger would be difficult, but it would be amazingly productive if we are requesting the Lord’s help and guidance and support.

In Chapter 2 Joel describes what will proceed the Second Coming: 
*A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness…there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it…” (v 2)
* “A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth…yea nothing shall escape them” (v 3) The fire shall run as fast as horses. And the noise of the fire will be like the sound of chariots. (v’s 4-5)
* To those who obey the Lord, protection will come. “…they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.” (v 8)
* They shall run seeking protection anywhere…even climbing through windows (v 9)
* “The earth shall quake…the heavens shall tremble… the sun and the moon shall be dark…the stars shall withdraw their shining” (v 10)

And then v 11 tells us “And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word; for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible…”

Joel tells us how to prepare for all of this: “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments [JST: “and repent, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and he will turn away the evil from you”] (v’s 12-13)

Beginning in v 15, Joel is telling us how to prepare: 
*”Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly” (v 15)
*”Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children…”(v16)

Then in v 20 the Lord says “I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate with his face toward the east”  

“Fear not, O land: be glad and rejoice for the Lord will do great things….Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring…Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God…and he will cause to come down for you the rain…(and crops will grow again)…(v’s 21-26)

V’s 27-28 tell what we are working toward: “And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else; and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions…”

And then will come wonders in the heavens, but on the earth there will be blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun will be dark, the moon will be turned to blood. BUT “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered…” (v 32)  These are just more reasons for us to live in a way that will say “Behold the handmade of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word..”

Chapter 3 is a sad chapter, preparing us for the fact that every county in the world will be at war shortly before the Second Coming. These will be hard times and bad times of inhumanity. We should prepare ourselves for war. When all these signs have happened and the war is all around us “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” 

Our job is to work to increase our faith, and our efforts to grow closer to Him, remembering that faith in the Lord is HOPE in our hearts and minds. At the end of all of these terrible times, will come glorious times, for this will be the beginning of the Lord dwelling WITH us in this world.
I pray for the strength to survive these times with faith and hope and care and love.


 

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