Minor Prophets 8 Joel

Intro

nearing the end of the minor prophets

doing a lot of recapping in this one

Locusts are coming

the plot and cyclical nature of God’s people

judgment is always coming and it is always awful

can you see the similarity between this and the others?

Joel is simple and cyclical in its writing sequence as well

the evil of the people will have consequences

your actions today have consequences and you should not feel so callous as to simply look past the wrong that you have done and feel nothing

to think you are somehow above or beyond that

remember with regret but look to the future and the savior in hope

Back to Hopeful

salvation comes to those who earnestly seek relationship with God

the same theme repeated throughout the prophets we have already read

Hosea 6:6- Micah 6:6-8- Amos 5:21- etc

you cannot shortcut a relationship with God

some people maybe but not God

in comparison to what God offers its not like he is asking a lot from you

Life and hope are for those who do more than make burnt offerings

they are for those who call his name

Zephaniah 3:17- hope and mercy as is in Joel

Application

if you want to be free of the evils in the world, stop living such that they matter

the truth from the sermon on the mount

you are not caught in some cycle though your actions do have consequences

you are called higher than they were and yet we still find a million things to blame for our problems

look for the solutions God gives

consider the trials joy