Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Something that is imminent is something that is soon to happen, however the word carries a bit more meaning than just soon.

It is not just soon but could come at any time now - but it IS coming so it is also a sure thing.

The Day of the Lord IS coming and IS near but not only is it near it is also IMMINENT.

Joel in chapter one spoke of a judgment that had come while pointing to a future judgment that will come.

Joel 2 is a description of that coming judgment with the addition that not only is it coming but it is imminent.

Since it is part of God’s day and not man’s day - it is simply described as the day of the Lord.

Now that Joel has gotten the people’s attention, Joel continues on as if to say stop looking at the present trouble so intently that you forget to be looking ahead to the fulfillment of what this plague is pointing to.

An invasion of a fierce army from the North - a mighty army set against Judah.

The invading force is described in locust like terms to establish continuity with the current locust plague.

The reality occurring is hinting and pointing to the reality coming.

Join with me at chapter 2 and lets see this description Joel lays out of the imminent day coming and see what must be done to be prepared for the day IS imminent.

Nearness of the Day

Joel starts out calling for the blowing of the ram’s horn.

Men who stood watch on the city walls would have ram’s horns and would blow them to alert the city residents and warriors of coming trouble or invading armies.

Joel is called and acting as the spiritual watchman for Judah.

Calling for the ram’s horn to be blown in Zion - for the alarm to be sounded on God’s holy mountain.

Referring to the temple mount - the temple should be sounding the spiritual alarm to alert the people to coming danger.

The sounding of the alarm should cause the people to tremble.

Literally Joel is called to sound the alarm in order to cause the people to quiver and shake with fear at the coming trouble.

The alarm should move them and disturb them for they are not prepared.

Why should the people be disturbed and moved with fear and with caution?

The day of the Lord is coming!

The Day of the Lord is coming and in fact it is indeed near!

1 Thessalonians 5:

The relentless approach of that great day of the Lord should cause fear and trembling - especially for those unprepared.

Why, well Joel describes the coming day.

The Day Described

It is described as a day of darkness and gloom.

This is specifically speaking to the condition or atmosphere for those in it.

Clouds and total darkness - the reference of the intense darkness following the locust plague has similarities to Exodus 10 where the same order of events is seen.

Darkness and clouds associated with the Lord as victorious Warrior also here is symbolic of judgment and destruction.

Next Joel describes the vast invasion and the suddenness with which it appears.

Like the morning dawn as it breaks reveals what was unseen before - as light breaks the size of the army is revealed a great and strong people such as has never existed nor ever will again in all the generations to come.

While it can be hard to know what invasion Joel is prophesying, it could also be a prophesied invasion that never came to be because of the response from Judah and God relented and held back the army.

King Joash (Josiah) had a 40 year godly reign that began right after Joel’s prophecy.

Other commentators believe that Joel is referring back to the army of locusts and describing them poetically.

It is best however to see that Joel is writing of a literal human army that will come against unrepentant Judah.

A fire devours in front of them and behind them a flame blazes.

The land before them is lush and like the garden of Eden but behind them is a wasteland and there is no escape from them.

The destruction surrounding them is utter and total devastation of which nothing is left and nothing survives.

The description of the army says their faces are like horses and they gallop like wear horses - they bound on top of mountains and they sound like chariots.

They have the sound of a crackling fire consuming stubble and they are like a mighty army deployed for war.

The invasion of the locusts and the army have similarities.

The German and Italian word for locust literally means hay-horse and little horse

Nations are described as writhing in horror before them helpless by the vast number.

They attack as warriors and scale the walls each in their own path (verse 7) without a change of course.

They dont push each other and each proceed on their own path.

Dodging attacks but never ceasing to advance forward.

They do not stop and are not really slowed down.

Pointing to something much more terrible coming in the day of the Lord.

The Lord makes His voice heard in the presence of His army.

His camp is large and those who go before Him in His name are powerful.

The day of the Lord is indeed dreadful who can endure it?

Literally who can stand in that day with any courage.

God is speaking lovingly saying terrible times are coming - I am bringing them, but you dont have to be there when I do.

You can escape My wrath by turning to Me.

In Joel’s day people were not as interested in future things as they were caught up and worried about present troubles.

Maybe that’s some of you here this morning - perhaps saying the Day of the Lord is interesting and all but doesn’t help me with my situation now.

Maybe the future doesnt concern you because you are caught up in present issues of today and of the period known as right now - but the alarm is sounding be prepared for it might be bad right now - but when that day comes it will be much worse.

Dont let today’s troubles prevent you from being prepared for the day of the Lord because it is imminent.

There is only one way to be prepared for this invasion and this army bringing the Lord’s judgment.

The Only Strategy

Before such an invincible army the nation’s only hope was to turn immediately - even now to the Lord in repentance.

The Lord called for it - even now, meaning you dont have to wait to see trouble on the horizon you can turn back now.

The Lord declares turn to me - turn your attention, your interest, and your trust to Him with all your heart.

Do not turn to the Lord half-hearted to the Lord.

Perhaps some of us here if we are honest we have only turned to the Lord half-hearted, what other things vies for your attention, gains your interest and earns your trust?

To turn whole-heartedly to the Lord requires genuine sincerity.

God describes what genuine sincerity looks like when He says Turn with weeping fasting and mourning and to Tear your hearts - not just your clothes and return to the Lord your God.

Turning to the Lord whole heartedly means the inside matches the outside.

Inward matters more than the outward but do notice the outward was not excluded either.

Spurgeon tells the story of a woman who came seeming to be in great sorrow saying what a great sinner she was, but Spurgeon suspected her repentance wasnt sincere.

He said “Well if you are a sinner of course you have broken God’s laws.

Let’s read the ten commandments and see which ones you have broken.

They started at the first: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” and Spurgeon asked her if she has ever broken that commandment.

“Oh no” she said, “not that I know of.”

“You shall not make any graven image’ - did you ever break that one?” “Never sir” she answered.

Spurgeon went through all ten and she could not find a single one she had broken, and what he suspected was true.

She didnt really consider herself a sinner, and her repentance was a show because she thought it was expected of her.

Repentance is the desired outcome of the Lord’s judgments - but it must be sincere.

Because they heard the warning of judgment doesnt make the repentance any less valid because they were “scared” into it.

The only important thing is that they turn back in sincerity.

How does one turn back to the Lord?

To return to the Lord indicates one has gone away from the Lord and they need to return to Him.

Why return to Him? Isnt He just full of judgment and anger?

Joel says return to the Lord your God - because He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love and He relents from sending disaster God relents!

Ceases graciously from acting and sending disaster.

The relationship and the character of God should motivate and entice people to return back to the Lord.

Act according to God’s character - not because God will owe you anything or become a debtor to mankind - but because God ALWAYS acts in accordance with His own character.

This is why it is important to know God and to know His revealed character - so we can act in faith of Him and His character — we are responding to who God IS!

Knowing the goodness and mercy of God motivates true repentance.

We can come confident that He will heal and forgive and may relent from announced judgment.

We do not repent thinking that God is so mean and is waiting to squash me - but instead knowing He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger - He will spare you from what you deserve

Who knows - referencing the sovereignty of God - He doesnt have to act, we cant do anything to force God’s hand, but God always acts in accordance to His character, His word and His promises.

The Whole nation must be involved in the repentance - everyone is called to repent.

Blow the ram’s horn and announce a sacred fast.

The ram’s horn could also be used to gather the people together.

Joel says call everyone together - old, young, toddler and nursing infant.

The groom and bride also are not excluded.