Joel

Series intro

Hosea recap

Being disciplined by parents

Hebrews 12:9–11 NIV

9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

This is what is happening in Joel

Scene 1: The locusts decimate (1:1-7)

Joel 1:4 NLT

4 After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops, the swarming locusts took what was left! After them came the hopping locusts, and then the stripping locusts, too!

Imagine the impact of this on an agricultural society that has no insurance-

Destroyed crops for people - destroyed food for animals. Widespread famine

Scene 2: Joel calls for lamenting (1:8-2:10)

Joel 1:8–9 NLT

8 Weep like a bride dressed in black, mourning the death of her husband. 9 For there is no grain or wine to offer at the Temple of the Lord. So the priests are in mourning. The ministers of the Lord are weeping.

This is trauma and trauma needs lament -

Lament allows the pain of the circumstance out, while still engaging with God as the source of the circumstance.

Scene 3: Joel calls for repentance (2:11-17)

Joel 2:13 NLT

13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

Joel says that God has brought this upon Judah. The OT writers and prophets had no trouble assigning responsibility for catastrophe to God. For them, every blessing and every curse came from God. Every blessing came from God because they were walking in faithfulness to God and every curse came because they were unfaithful to following God’s commands.

For them, it was never if God was good. For them, it was always whether or not they were good. So Joel calls them to repent of their sins.

Meaning of repentance - “…repentance means changing one’s mind so that one’s views, values, goals, and ways are changed and one’s whole life is lived differently - J.I. Packer

Scene 4: God’s restores Israel (2:18-27)

Joel 2:19 (NLT)

19 The Lord will reply, “Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations.

God promises to heal the land as proof that He has not abandoned Israel and that He is God.

A promise for the future to inspire hope through the struggle now.

Scene 5: God sends the Holy Spirit (2:28-32)

God’s blessing is going up a notch - there is an even further blessing coming up - not only will the land be healed, the spiritual climate will change.

Joel 2:28 NLT

28 “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

Peter ties this verse to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2.

Scene 6: God punishes Israel’s enemies (3:1-16)

Joel 3:2 NLT

2 I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land.

God’s justice over the whole world is enacted. Evil and injustice is punished.

Scene 7: A new way of life (3:17-21)

Onscreen

Joel 3:21 NLT

21 I will pardon my people’s crimes, which I have not yet pardoned; and I, the Lord, will make my home in Jerusalem with my people.”

God’s people are forgiven, they enjoy abundance, live in peace, and God will be with them forever.

This book is like a coles notes of the entire story of the Bible

The danger

1) mis-interpreting us as individuals as Israel

- Not every promise or curse to Israel applies to you as an individual - God’s not necessarily going to smite the guy who cut you off while driving.

2) mis-interpreting our nation as Israel

- they were special - God’s chosen people

3) Determining what is God’s discipline and what is a bad circumstance is hard.

What I took from the book of Joel:

Every struggle / trial / catastrophe is an opportunity to come back to Jesus