[:en]SCRIPTURE: JOEL 1
INTRODUCTION:
Joel was the son of Pethuel who ministered in Judah when drought and a plague of locust hit the economy. He saw a sign of God’s final judgment and used the phrase “The Day of the Lord” to describe the calamity. He called on the nation to repent and promised that the Lord would forgive and bless them if they would heed his warnings.
“Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty” (Joel 1:15)
“To you, O Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you, the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures” (Joel 1:19-20)
INSTRUCTIONS OF JOEL TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL:
- HEAR (vs. 2-4) – Listen to God’s Word and turn to Him for help.
- WAKE UP (vs. 5-7) – A powerful nation like a lion has invaded and ruined the land.
- MOURN (vs. 8-12) – Fields are ruined, ground is destroyed, the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up and the oil falls. The harvest of wheat and the barley is destroyed. The vine and all the trees of the field (pomegranate, palm and apple) are dried up and the fig tree is withered. Nothing could be harvested.
- FAST AND CRY OUT (vs. 14-18) – Call a sacred assembly and summon the elders and people to cry out to the Lord. Weep over the sins and claim God’s promise.
When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, we can follow Joel’s instructions to hear God’s word, to wake up, to realize our mistakes, to mourn for our sins, to fast and cry out for God’s mercy.[:]