Joel: Desolation from God

LINK: Joel 1:1 - 2:17

by Katrina
(with the help of Dr. Charles Feinberg from his book The Minor Prophets)

BACKGROUND

In yesterday's reading of 2 Chronicles 24 (included in Saturday's post), we saw Joash forsaking the Lord after the death of Jehoiada. The people abandoned the Lord (v 18), and God sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord. Though these prophets testified against them, the people of Judah refused to listen (v 19). One of these prophets was most likely Joel.

The theme of the book of Joel is "The Day of Jehovah," or "The Day of the Lord." The term "day of the Lord" is typically used to refer to a time of judgment from God. It can refer to a variety of historical and prophetical events but almost always refers to calamitous judgment.

The book of Joel begins with a call for attention. Joel says that this is something big. Nothing like this has happened in known memory of these people. And he tells the people to be sure to tell their children and grandchildren of these events, so it will be passed down from generation to generation. Joel wants them to understand that his forthcoming prophecy is a very important message. Don't miss it!

Chapter one is Joel's description of a terrible plague of locusts and its effect on the land. Four successive swarms of locusts sweep through the land devouring every bit of vegetation on the way. The destruction is complete. There are many historical accounts of such devastation by locusts in many parts of the world.

The locusts are represented by a picture of an invading army that completely destroys the nation. This calls for great weeping and mourning. The worship of God at the temple is affected. There are no sacrifices for the people to offer. Joel tells the people to declare a time of fasting and prayer. They must cry out to the Lord for help.

This judgment, this destruction, has come from God and extends beyond the land itself. All the animals, as well as men, will suffer from it.

Chapter two begins with a call to sound the alarm, for The Day of Jehovah was at hand. Great doom and judgment is imminent. Beginning in verse two and continuing through verse 11, Joel describes an army invasion that will destroy the land. It is described like a war machine, an unstoppable power, a force that destroys everything in its path.

So Joel calls the people to repentance (v 12-17).

REFLECTION
What does repentance look like? The Lord tells us, "Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning. And rend your hearts and not your garments. Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil."

They have been going their own way, so if they are going to repent, they must change their direction to return to God. An important part of repentance is the realization that one is going a direction contrary to God. He is going away from God. His ways are against God. So repentance begins with the understanding that "my ways" are contrary to "God's ways" and I am the one who must change.

But this can't be a half-hearted return to God. It must be with a whole heart. A truly repentant heart does not say, "I repent of this sin and that sin, but I want to keep this other sin a bit longer." No, that is not whole-hearted repentance, and partial repentance isn't really repentance at all. As long as we intentionally keep that one sin, we are still going in our own direction.

Such full repentance is commonly accompanied by weeping. The realization of our own sinfulness in light of God's holiness causes us to mourn. We can be consumed with repenting to the point we don't even eat but stay focused for period of time on this repentance. Our hearts break because of our sin. That's what Joel means by "rend your hearts." Rending our garments would be an outward display of repentance. God isn't interested in outward displays; He is interested in the heart!

Who is this God to whom we must repent? He is a gracious and compassionate God. He is slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He is a God who relents when His people repent.

APPLICATION
Is God showing you an area of sin in your life? Meditate on Joel 2:12-17 today and whole-heartedly turn back to God.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, you are truly a loving father who chastises your children. You don't chastise us without reason, though, but do it to bring us to repentance. We praise you that your desire is for our repentance and restoration rather than our destruction. When we repent, you meet us with great compassion. You do not get angry but show us great love and kindness. Thank you for your great love for us. Thank you for your grace and compassion that you lavish on us. Thank you for bringing us to a point of repentance so we can turn from sin and go your way instead. In the name of Jesus, amen.