Day 255 – Joel

Talking Points

• Joel, like many of the Old Testament prophets, has a message that is both speaking into the hearers’ present situation and prophesying a future event. The account of the destructive locusts was most likely based on an actual occurrence, while also speaking of a coming invasion from a northern army.
• The book of Joel is most famous for detailing the coming day of the Lord. This day is an event revealing God’s judgment and justice. It is important to see that there are many such days recorded in God’s dealings with His people. All of those days, however, are pointing to a full and final day of the Lord, in which Christ will judge sin and establish lasting peace and justice.
• The entire book of Joel highlights the marvelous character of God. In the face of His people’s wickedness and rebellion, God calls them to be sorrowful over sin, repent of it, and turn to Him. God promises that if they return to Him, they will find compassion bigger than their sins, grace unimaginable, and restoration as if they had never wandered. God is truly kind to sinners!

Thoughts

In the midst of prophecies of complete ruin and destruction, there is this:“‘Yet even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.’ Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil” (Joel 2:13).

Rending garments was a visible sign of the deepest despair, grief, or terror. When Job’s whole world was lost, he “tore his robe” (Job 1:20). As Jacob took in the sight of his son Joseph’s colorful coat covered in blood, he “tore his clothes… and mourned his son for many days” (Genesis 37:34). The two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, “tore their clothes” when pleading with the congregation of Israel to trust God to go into the Promised Land (Numbers 14:6). When young King Josiah “heard the words of the [forgotten and long-neglected] law, he tore his clothes” (2 Chronicles 34:19).

Here, the God who describes Himself as gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil tells His people to rend not (or not only) their garments, but to lay open their hearts and turn to Him. A heart that has been rent is one humbled to the point of grief in godly sorrow. A heart that has turned to God has remembered His character and His covenant, and has trusted in the God who wants us to remember how compassionate He is. The Lord tells sinners how ready He always is to forgive and receive one back home.

Oh, that we would see — God wants us to know His character — His graciousness, His compassion, His patience, His mercy, His forgiveness. And, so He reveals all of these fully in Jesus Christ, the Way sinners are welcomed home, redeemed and restored as if they never left.

Today, may His reminder of Himself soften our hearts. May we lay them open before Him and turn to Him, trusting Him more. He is so good!