JOEL | JEHOVAH IS GOD

While most of the other minor prophets we have discussed were dealing with judgment at the hands of Assyria or Babylon, this destruction wasn’t coming from another nation.

It was an event that was so devastating that Joel says they hadn’t seen anything like it and they would be talking about it for years to come: Joel 1:2-3

Joel 1:2–3 KJV 1900

2 Hear this, ye old men, And give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, Or even in the days of your fathers? 3 Tell ye your children of it, And let your children tell their children, And their children another generation.

The destruction they were facing came at the wings and teeth of locusts.

He describes just how bad the famine had become in Joel 1:4

Joel 1:4 KJV 1900

4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; And that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; And that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

This swarm of locusts that undoubtedly darkened the skies, had consumed their land.

There was nothing green left… no crops left to grow… no fields to be harvested… nothing to feed their livestock.

Everything had been completely consumed!

Joel 1:6–7 KJV 1900

6 For a nation is come up upon my land, Strong, and without number, Whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, And he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 7 He hath laid my vine waste, And barked my fig tree: He hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; The branches thereof are made white.

Not only were they dealing with the plague of locusts, but there was a drought they were dealing with that led to wildfires consuming their lands!

Joel 1:19–20 KJV 1900

19 O Lord, to thee will I cry: For the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, And the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. 20 The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: For the rivers of waters are dried up, And the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

As Joel pens these words under inspiration of God, the readers could look around and nod their heads in sorrowful agreement that this was the sad situation they had found themselves in.

It would be something that they would talk about to their children and stories would be passed down for generations.

But it’s wasn’t just the plague and famine they would be passing down… they would also be passing down the lessons they learned during that time of trial.

Because God never wastes a trial.

He wanted them to learn from this hard time they were going through.

Joel 1:5 KJV 1900

5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; And howl, all ye drinkers of wine, Because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

Joel 1:8 KJV 1900

8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

Joel 1:11 KJV 1900

11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, For the wheat and for the barley; Because the harvest of the field is perished.

Joel 1:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: Howl, ye ministers of the altar: Come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: For the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. 14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the Lord your God, And cry unto the Lord,

God wanted them to learn and to respond to the trial they were facing!

APPLICATION: I’ve had numerous people discuss with me the similarities we mentioned a few weeks ago from Daniel’s day and our own.

How the wicked leadership tried to rob the people of their identity by changing their names, their culture, their language, and ultimately trying to control them through emasculating their young men and causing gender confusion.

What is a amazing is how even with the playbook written for us, we still watch as history repeats itself.

Parent’s can I remind you it isn’t the job of this preacher to teach your children to live godly… that’s your duty!

We’ve got too many parents in our world today trying to be their child’s friend instead of taking hold of the God-given role and responsibility!

Teach your kids what the Bible says.

Warn them of the mistakes of past generations and even from your own life!

The great learning experience is other people’s experience!

We need grandparents who will teach their grandkids how to avoid the mistakes of past generations.

And we need you people who will search out the counsel of the previous generations!

Teenager, believe it or not, you don’t know everything!

And if you would put your cell phone down, turn of the TV, take the ear buds out of your ears, and pay attention, you might actually learn something that can save you from the heartache that others have gone through!

We need the elder to teach the younger about the goodness of God through the trials of life!

Philippians 1:29 KJV 1900

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Where is the Barnabas to encourage the Mark?

Where is the Paul to teach the Timothy?

It’s time to wake up and pass down those lessons!

It’s time to wake up and listen to those who are teaching!

Investing in others takes time… but it is always worth the investment!

Learn from your trials and share your experience with others.

EXPLANATION: But as bad as things were in chapter 1, Joel was only setting the stage for what he would be discussing in chapter 2.

As he begins chapter 2, he instructs the readers to “blow the trumpet and sound an alarm”

Joel 2:1 KJV 1900

1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: For the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

The blowing of a trumpet was used to gather people for an occasion or to warn them of coming danger.

And in this situation, it is because of the second reason.

Joel proclaims that the “Day of the Lord” was coming.

Now when Joel said this, it wasn’t referring to a specific day… but rather a period of time.

We might say we live in a “day of technology”

We aren’t referring to a specific date, but a period of time.

The use of the phrase “day of the Lord,” is a day of judgment and reckoning of Israel.

In chapter 2, as Joel proclaims that this judgment is coming, he describes it as coming from an army.

He is describing, just as the locusts plague had overtaken and destroyed their land, so destruction would come upon Israel.

In a similar way that he spoke of the locusts of chapter 1, he speaks of this coming army in Joel 2:2-3

Joel 2:2–3 KJV 1900

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, A day of clouds and of thick darkness, As the morning spread upon the mountains: A great people and a strong; There hath not been ever the like, Neither shall be any more after it, Even to the years of many generations. 3 A fire devoureth before them; And behind them a flame burneth: The land is as the garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Yea, and nothing shall escape them.

Destruction was coming for Israel.

This prophecy was in part fulfilled with the destruction of the Israelites at the hands of the Assyrians and then the Babylonians…

But in a greater way, it is a prophecy of destruction that is still to come.

As you come to v.10-11, we are reminded of the eschatological timeline:

Joel 2:10–11 KJV 1900

10 The earth shall quake before them; The heavens shall tremble: The sun and the moon shall be dark, And the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: For his camp is very great: For he is strong that executeth his word: For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; And who can abide it?

The next event on God’s prophetic timeline is an event called the Rapture.

It is from a Latin word, “Rapti” that literally means to “catch up”

At the rapture, all those who have trusted Christ as Savior, living and dead, will be called up to meet the Lord in the air.

1 Thessalonians 4:15–17 KJV 1900

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Following the rapture of church, a man who will have risen to power, will make a peace treaty with Israel.

At the signing of that peace treaty will begin a 7 year period in which the Day of the Lord, God’s final dealing with Israel, will take place.

During that time there will be destruction and persecution like never before.

When we study Eschatology more in depth we will get further into the details but one of the most stunning aspects of the tribulation period is the number of people who will die in just a short period of time.

In Revelation we find that there are three groups of 7 judgments that will be poured out on the world during those 7 years.

Some of those judgments we know what percentage of the worlds population will be killed.

For example in the 4th Seal: Death released. 1/4 of the worlds population to die by plagues, disease, beasts of the earth

And in the 6th Trumpet: An army kills 1/3 of the world's population

Just based on the numbers we know, if the rapture were to happen today, in the next 7 years over half of the earth’s population would be killed.

At least 4.5 Billion people would lose their lives in the coming destruction… and probably more than that!

It is with the knowledge of that coming judgment in mind that Joel writes what are two of my favorite verses in his entire book: Joel 2:12-13

Joel 2:12–13 KJV 1900

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn unto the Lord your God: For he is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness, And repenteth him of the evil.

He writes to the nation of Judah and Israel and challenges them to stop living a surface level life for God!

In the OT, when someone was broken, they would tear their garments.

It was an outward expression of an inward brokenness.

But the people of Judah had turned it into a ritualistic practice.

They wanted everyone else to see their spirituality, their humility.

They were humble and proud of it.

The problem was it was all just for show.

They had an appearance of godliness… but denied the power thereof.

And God said, “I’m tired of your torn garments.”

“I don’t want your appearance of humility”

“I’m not interested in your display of spirituality.”

“I want your heart not your garments!”

Like the Pharisees of the NT they were whited sepulchers that looked good on the outside but were dead on the inside!

And God was tired of it.

APPLICATION: And can I tell you something Christian… He isn’t a fan of it today either!

Friend, in light of what we know is coming and could happen at any moment with the rapture, Joel is writing to you this morning and proclaiming Joel 2:12-13

Joel 2:12–13 KJV 1900

God is not interested in your spiritual show… He wants your heart!

Psalm 34:18 KJV 1900

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

David understood this a prayed in Psalm 51:17

Psalm 51:17 KJV 1900

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

ILLUSTRATION: Hollywood pays people millions of dollars to pretend to be someone they aren’t.

In New York, there are plays where people are paid thousands, to act like they are someone else

I have only been in one play in third grade, and they paid me nothing for it.

You put on a wig, clothes that you would never really wear, and sometimes even put on makeup.

You Act like someone you really aren’t.

APPLICATION: People in Hollywood make millions, yet I believe the greatest actors can be found in churches all across the world, and even here today

My fear is that this room is filled with actors!

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV 1900

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There may be some in this room who are going to wake up in a lake of fire someday!

If Jesus were to come back at this moment, you would be left behind!

You’re an actor that is pretending to be a Christian, but God isn’t interested in your religious games… He wants your heart!

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If you are playing a game this morning, it’s time to get real, and accept Christ as your Savior.

But my guess is the majority of the crowd here this morning has accepted Christ as your Savior.

But let’s just be honest… you may be on the right team but you’ve just been sitting on the sideline for a long time.

I wonder this morning… what is it going to take to wake you up?

Because if you can hear about the coming judgment of God on the world during the tribulation period and it doesn’t stir you to stop sitting so comfortably… I don’t know what will!

Have we really become so complacent and apathetic that we are content to sit by and watch as our friends and our families die and spend eternity in a lake of fire?

This morning, God isn’t interested in your garment, He wants your heart!

He wants you to crucify your pride and have a broken heart before Him, so He can use you for His glory!

ILLUSTRATION: $20 is a great thing to have.

But if I went to a pop machine to get a Dr. Pepper, before I could use it, what would I have to do with this $20?

I would have to break it.

APPLICATION: Before Jesus fed the 5000, He first took the bread and broke it

Before Mary poured out the ointment on Jesus, she first broke the box!

Before God used Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, God stuck him in the backside of the desert for 40 years, and when God spoke to him out of that burning bush, Moses was a broken man… Exactly what God could use!

And the Bible still tells us in Matthew 16:24-25

Matthew 16:24–25 KJV 1900

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Maybe for once in our life, we should come to the Lord and pray “God instead of fixing everything in my life… why don’t you break my heart!”

EXPLANATION: Joel record in his book in the rest of chapter 2 and chapter 3, just what would happen when Israel would rend their heart and not their garments

Joel 2:18 KJV 1900

18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, And pity his people.

Joel 2:27 KJV 1900

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the Lord your God, and none else: And my people shall never be ashamed.

And in chapter 3 he promised victory over their enemies.

It’s almost like God was willing to fulfill his promise from 2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

CONCLUSION

APPLICATION: Christ, let’s stop playing games this morning.

Stop putting on a show and being an actor in the Christian life.

Instead Joel 2:12-13

Joel 2:12–13 KJV 1900

The name Joel is a combination of 2 Hebrew words:

“Jo” is short for Jehovah

“El” is the Hebrew for Elohim which means “God”

His name means Jehovah is God.

I wonder, is Jehovah the God of your life?

Today may be the day to stop pretending, and actually make Him the God of your life!