Introduction
Joel was a prophet to the southern nation of Judah. He has prophesied some very destructive discipline from God and has also given some very developed Messianic prophecies. Joel is very difficult to date, we assume the date to be around 830 BC.
• The prophet’s name means the “Lord is God” or Yahweh is God
• Joel tells of an extremely serious locust plague which was brought on by God
and warns that even more serious discipline from God will follow if the people
do not repent from the heart
• His call to repentance emphazies on a need to rend their hearts and not just
an outward show!
• His most famous passage is the promise of the outpouring of the Spirit
(Joel 2:28-30).
A Call To Mourn (Joel 1:1-2:11)
Joel warns the people by describing a locust invasion.
• He first calls on the elders, since they are the leaders of the people (v.3) to
repent.
• He then warns the drunkards (v5) and farmers (v11)
• His last group are the priests (v.13-20)
The repentance was to involve a return to God with their whole heart, completed with fasting, weeping and mourning. They were to rend their hearts and not their garments (2:12-13). As always, the temptation of people was to trust their outward religious observances more than focussing on their hearts. Are our hearts turned towards God? Are we just rending our garments or are we really broken in our hearts? Which is more important the activity or the attitude? Which one are we focussed on?
Blessings Will Follow Discipline (Joel 2:12-3:21)
• Immediate relief from the plague (2:13-27).
• The outpouring of the Spirit (2:28-32) [ The coming of the spirit made possible
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for everyone who repented and was baptized
for forgiveness (Acts 2:38-39) ].
•The restored fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem (3:1-16a).
• The ultimate blessing was the coming of the Messiah (3:17-21).
Blessing always follow God’s discipline. Or in other words, God gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud. We all desire restoration. But restoration comes through repentance. When we turn to God, He blesses by abundantly.
Application : Pray through Ps.51.
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word – Isa. 66:2”
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