Day 255—We are in the NINTH month of Bible reading with more of Israel’s history and the prophet JOEL.

    Day 255– Joel 1 – 3 (the Day of the LORD)

It’s not clear where Joel’s prophesy fits in Israel’s history. Some believe as far back as Josiah’s reign. Others to just before the Babylonians attack.  The judgments he writes about in chapters 2-3 could apply to any age.

Joel 1.  This chapter compares an actual devastating locust invasion and a famine in Israel with “the day of the LORD” and as destruction from the Almighty.

It was a time of judgment, and Joel calls the people and spiritual leaders to fasting and repentance. (Wail, lament, mourn, be ashamed, put on sackcloth, consecrate a fast, cry out to the LORD.)  In verse 19, Joel sets the example, “To you, O LORD, I call….”

.

Joel 2. In this chapter, Joel seems to predict the coming hoards of Babylon, comparing them to the locusts in chapter one.  “…the day of the LORD is coming; it is near; a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! (like in swarms of locusts) Like blackness, there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people, their likeness has never been seen before…”   “…like a powerful army drawn up for battle.”  

This also can be compared to a FUTURE “day of the LORD.”  “The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The LORD utters his voice before His army, for His camp is exceedingly great; He who executes His word is Powerful.  For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?”

Then, the LORD calls for repentance through His prophet Joel. “Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.“

Then a verse that is worth memorizing, even for OUR time.

     “Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.”   (See also Psalm 103:8-12)

And after the priests interceded, “Then the LORD had pity on his people.”

Then comes that glorious passage for anyone who has lost much but turned to God….   “I will RESTORE to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God who has dealt wondrously with you.”

Verse 27 reminds me of the end of Ezekiel. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.”

In his sermon on Pentecost, the apostle Peter refers to Joel 2:28-29 as what happened to them when the Holy Spirit came upon them.  “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; YOUR sons and YOUR daughters shall prophesy, YOUR old men shall dream dreams, and YOUR young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.” 

 In Romans 10:13, the apostle Paul quotes Joel 2:32.  “And it shall come to pass that EVERYONE who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

,

Joel 3.  This chapter tells about the national restoration of Israel and the judgment on the nations.  Like in Ezekiel, God calls the countries of the world to a valley for a great war in which they will be destroyed. (Joel calls it “the Valley of Jehoshaphat.”)

     “Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD. Let the nations stir themselves up and come to the the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.  Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow for their evil is great.  Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” 

Read also Revelation 14:19-20 about the wrath of God in trampling the grapes in the winepress.) 

And as we read in Ezekiel 47:1 yesterday, Joel 3:18 mentions, “A fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim*.”  (*the north shore of the Dead Sea.)

Joel says, “Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations.”

.

We begin reading the book of DANIEL tomorrow.