June 13: Joel

The words of the prophet Joel paint a vivid picture of what the "day of the LORD" will entail. While the Israelites held that the "day of the LORD" would mean blessing and deliverance for all of Israel, Joel notes that this "day" should strike fear into people's hearts. Among those who have not followed the Lord, Joel singles out drunkards in his call for repentance in Chapter 1. A commentator explains that drunkenness "suggests a self-indulgent lifestyle (cf. Isaiah 28:7,8 and Amos 4:1) pursued by those who value material things more than [the] spiritual." After reading through the foregoing history of the kings, we find this self-indulgence and spiritual negligence.

Before offering rest to His devoted followers, God will cleanse the land and its people through plagues and fire. Interestingly, the invading locusts mentioned here bring fire themselves:

"Before them fire devours,
behind them a flame blazes." (2:3a)
　

In a similar manner, 2 Peter 3:10-13 discusses the "day of the LORD" in clear terms, evoking much of the imagery from Joel:

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
　
As Peter notes, there is indeed a promise of redemption and renewal after the judgment. Joel calls the people to:

"Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD you God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity." (2:13)


The people must assume an attitude of repentance and seek restoration -- that only God may bring -- before receiving His rest. Only those who are devoted to God's plan and seeking to follow after his heart will receive the blessings that God will bestow:

"Then the LORD will be jealous for his land
and take pity on his people.
"The LORD will reply to them:
'I am sending you grain, new wine and oil,
enough to satisfy you fully;
never again will I make you
an object of scorn to the nations.'" (2:18,19)

"'Then you will know that I, the LORD your God,
dwell in Zion, my holy hill.
Jerusalem will be holy;
never again will foreigners invade her.
"'In that day the mountains will drip new wine,
and the hills flow with milk;
all the ravines of Judah will run with water.
A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house
and will water the valley of the acacias.'" (3:17,18)
　

Not only will the land experience a physical renewal, but there will be a spiritual renewal and a cosmic show of the Lord's glory. The aftereffects of this "day of the LORD" will bring about the full restoration that God had intended from the moment that Adam and Eve had sinned in the Garden.

"'And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming and great and dreadful day of the LORD.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved... " (2:28-32a)
　
Please remember that Peter's first sermon in the age of church, given on Pentecost Sunday, included these momentous verses. At the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples in Acts 2, Peter sees this sign as fulfillment for Joel's prophecy. The church would join the Risen Christ in bringing this prophecy to fulfillment, through the power of the Holy Spirit. God would accompany the outpouring of His Spirit with "wonders" and other signs.
　

QUESTIONS

1. Knowing that the "day of the LORD" is a certain future reality, how must you personally prepare?

2. Joel contains both elements of judgment and restoration. How can you communicate this message to those who may not have heard this message?