Joel

Joel is above it’s historical context

What does that mean? Bible study and context. We know hardly anything about Joel’s context. That’s on purpose.

Acts 2:15–21 (NIV) These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Direct quote from Joel 2:28

Type of writing: poetry and metaphors

Joel 1:3 (NIV)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.

So what is he saying to all of history?

Joel 1- everything has been eaten up, burned, and destroyed. Wail and fast.

Joel 2- the day of the Lord is coming and it’s darkness and destruction. Wail and fast! Tear open your heart before God and He will answer with pitty and redemption!

Joel 3- after I restore my people I will utterly destroy their enemies and they will know that I am the Lord your God.

We are enemies of God, and He is coming. Tear open your heart before God and He will answer with mercy and redemption! He will restore you and on the last day trample your enemies underneath His feet.

Application

Where are you in your walk with God? It’s all here.

is everything gone?

have you torn out your heart?

Are you trusting in His name?

Joel 2:32 “32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”

Are you confident? Have you been filled with His spirit?

Have you grabbed onto victory? Tell your children and your children’s children.

Action

Joel 1:1 (NIV)

The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel.

Literally translated Persuade God.

Joel 2:12-14 “12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.”

Joel 2:18-19 “18 Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. 19 The Lord replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.”

You can reorient God’s by appealing to different parts of His nature.

Matthew 6:14 Prompt God’s forgiveness “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 25:29 Prompt God’s trust “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

Matthew 19:29 Prompt God’s salvation “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

Joel 2:32 “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”

Romans 10:12-13 “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””

What’s the point

In part, the quality of your relationship with God depends on you. If you ignore Him, maybe He’ll quit talking to you. If he’s calling you out of sin and you won’t let it go, you orient His judgement and discipline in your direction. If, every morning, we call out with sorrow over our sin, and appeal to His loving nature and kindness through faith, we orient His mercy in our direction.

Psalm 25:6-7 “6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.”

Psalm 77:7-11 “7 “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” 10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”

Has your child ever appealed to your heart?