Joel
2 reminds me of the defeated in life. They have been crushed in
spirit and they have given up hope. They have accepted that they are
not special, or successful, or even lovable. They do not know or
care that there is a spiritual battle happening right now and
Armageddon is coming. Today’s chapter was given to the Nation of
Israel, but it also speaks to all the lost who have stopped
searching. It begins with a bold statement, “Blow
the trumpet in Zion… Let all who live in the land tremble, for the
Day of the Lord is coming“.
Trumpets were used for many things, but here it is to signify that
the battle is about to begin. Joel describes what sounds like modern
warfare, but on a scale never seen, “a
large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor
ever will be in ages to come“.
Ground forces and air forces advance, “Before
them fire devours… behind them, a desert waste… they leap over
the mountaintops… Before them the earth shakes… the sun and moon
are darkened, and the stars no longer shine“.
Evil will fight with every weapon of war. They will be deceived
into believing world domination is possible until they see their
enemy, “The Lord thunders at
the head of His army; His forces are beyond number“.
Joel asks a question for those that think they will sit on the
sidelines, “Who can endure it?“
It
is to the empty and hungry that the Lord declares “return
to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning“.
To those bound in fear and anger, Joel continues, “Return
to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to
anger and abounding in love“.
He tells them that outward symbols are not enough, “Rend
your heart and not your garments“.
Perhaps Joel is speaking from personal experience, “He
may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing“.
And he describes a different trumpet; this is to “call
a sacred assembly… Gather the people… bring together… gather
the children“. In the unity
of faith, “Let them say,
‘Spare Your people, Lord’“.
Is it time to gather with others?
The
chapter closes with God’s response, “Then
the Lord… took
pity on His people“. God
Himself makes these promises to those that trust Him, “I
am sending you… enough
to satisfy you fully“. And
God makes the greatest promise possible to those of us that have
wasted years in retreat, “I
will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten“.
Only God can fully restore us! Maybe you feel it is too late? Even
if it is no longer the springtime of your life, “He
has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful“.
Don’t miss that point God is
faithful. We need enough faith
to believe His promise, “that I
am the Lord your God, and that there is no other“.
The chapter closes with what I believe to be a reference to those
that accept Christ as Savior before the Second Coming of Messiah,
“before the coming of the great
and dreadful day of the Lord“.
There will also be a remnant, “And
everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved“.
Joel concludes, “There will be
deliverance… even among the survivors“.
Friend, are you tired of losing? “Do
not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the
battle is not yours, but God’s”
(2 Chronicles 20:15). Is it time to surrender to the God of Mercy?