14 May (Joel 1)

Joel 1

Bible scholars have placed the writing of this book to the time of Elijah and Elisha. Joel was someone who came upon the scene quickly, and left just as quickly. God gave him His word to spread to the people, and that is what Joel did...without holding any punches!

Joel starts by referencing the current plague of locusts, and implores the people to repent back to God. He did this because God gave him a vision of what great judgement will come in the future...the Day of the LORD!

He prophesied of the coming of the Holy Spirit and was quoted by Peter in Acts 2:16

(v.1) The name Joel means Yehovah is God in Hebrew. He was named for his purpose...to wake up the sleeping people of Israel and Judah, and to have them repent to God.

(v.3) This is one of the verses that convicted me to teach my children the Scriptures. It only takes one generation to fall away from God since they aren't taught His ways. Let's not let that happen on our watch!

(vv.6-12) The land has become desolate, and the people have hard hearts. The only way to correct this, is to repent, and to call upon the LORD. We can see signs of this in America today, and if we keep on the road we're on, we'll suffer the same things. We need to start with each one of us, then our families, then our communities, and keep working our way towards a revival of this country. Only our dependence upon the God who made this country, will restore this country!

(v.14) If you're not at a church that practices public or group fasts, then you should find one that does. Praying and fasting as a body is not only effective, but enlightening to those that do it.

(v.15) What we read in the book of Revelation is what Joel is talking about here...the Day of the LORD. We will see that there are other similar ways to say it, but they all point to the Second Coming of Christ in His wrath upon the unbelievers and wicked ones.