Judgment executed: the theme is retribution. Tick-tock the clock on the wall said, “That’s all” Execution completed that destroyed Judah’s economy, livelihood, caused famine, starvation, malnutrition, sickness, disease and I can imagine death in the land.
Prevent from happening again (1:2-3) Joel told the old men and all the people in the land to “Hear.” In other words listen-up. “In your days, or the days of your fathers? Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. Think about the importance of passing down family history, stories, struggles, and success to your children and mine from generation to generations. “Locust devastation judgment” (verses 3-20) and the worst has yet to come” if fail to repent. So the land and field were demolished-ate up which included the vines, bark and branches of the fig tree, corn wasted, the new wine, the wheat, barley, all harvest of the field perished, pomegranate, palm, apple and every tree of the field withered, seed rotten. That which the palmerworm hath left, the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left, the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left, the caterpillar eaten. The beasts of the field groan and cry-out, herds of cattle are perplexed, no pasture; the flocks of sheep were desolate; and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, the rivers of waters all dried up and the flame burned all the trees of the field. Dark days and gloominess over the people of Judah like never before
Joel said “Cry-out & weep” (verses 5,8,19) 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. Wine no longer available. Suggesting led them to force detox. The “Drunkards” probably experienced withdraw symptoms like trembling, insomnia, delirium, anxiety, heart problems and more. Now faced with drug addiction told to “Weep and cry-out to the LORD for repentance and help.
Moreover all the people that included the drunkards, nation, farmers-workers and priest were called to “Mourning;” which is to humbly lament-cry-out with repentance to God like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. Meaning the land was addressed as a virgin betrothed, but not yet married, and forfeiting her marriage by unworthy conduct. Therefore Judah’s relationship to the LORD was broken due to their unfaithfulness, while the LORD maintained faithfulness towards them. Now let her, the people and land mourn the penalty. O LORD, to thee will I cry.
The call to Repentance consists of the 4 steps to seeking revival (a spiritual reawakening from a state of sin, dormancy or stagnation in the life of serving the LORD 1:14. Yet a guide for every believer (1) An intentional WAKE UP to ones’ sinfulness 1:5; (2) MOURN (lament) over ones’ sinfulness 1:8; (3) BE ASHAMED of ones’ sinfulness 1:11; and (4) Prepare for Action to DEAL aggressively with ones’ sinfulness in genuine repentance.
God now orders Judah to take these three final steps in seeking Revival which are also beneficial for today’s believers. (1) Sanctify ye a FAST. God had never ordered the entire nation to such a day (1:14a). Believers can FAST individually, collectively with the body of Christ, as a family unit and other ways; (2) Call a solemn ASSEMBLY gather all the inhabitants of the land” 1:14b. Today’s believer ASSEMBLY can be communities, the church, church organizations, families and more; finally (3) CRY unto the LORD (1:14c)
Present help scriptures: Psalm 102:1-2 “A Prayer of the Afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry for help come to You. Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress; Incline Your ear to me; In the day when I call answer me quickly. Psalm 51:1-4 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou might be justified when thou speak, and be clear when thou judges. Read the entire 51st Chapter for more. Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God (Not my will LORD, but Your will be done. I surrender self to you.) Then “Resist the devil (like by not speaking evil, calming down, trusting God & prayer) and he will flee from you.”
Our assurances-The biblical definition of HOPE is “the sure and confident expectation of receiving what God has promised us in the future,” as well as today. The believer’s hope is not a faint or obscure wish but “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).
Therefore our HOPE Scriptures are anchors-sure confident of God’s right now and future promises to all that believe. Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” 1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Psalm 33:18 “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.”
Thanks LORD for your instructions of repentance and revival of our faith. More thanks we are not dead living in our sins, but washed and made righteous through the shed blood of Christ. Therefore our HOPE of assurances are for today and the future of an everlasting life with you. As always, thanks for allowing the share of JUDGMENT, BUT HOPE. We speak in to you a life peace, love, hope, joy and blessings! Neatbooks4u
