This book is composed of Joel talking first, and then God. The "day of the Lord" is judgement.....all the people have to do is repent and the Lord will take them back, but they remain stubborn as you can see by all the other prophets we have read so far. Notice the consistent themes; scripture never contradicts scripture.
It is so interesting to me that the Pentecost is mentioned in Acts....How in the world could Joel know that the Spirit would be poured out on men (Joel 2:29). I mean, how could he even conceive of such a thing? When we see the fulfillment, we can see the details...but Joel would be physically dead and never see the fulfillment. This is how I view Ezekiel's temple prophecy.....we don't know how God will fufill things until they happen...we know he will fulfill, but if it hasn't been fulfilled, it is WIDE OPEN in how the Lord is going to do it.....you can't tell me that Joel knew that there would be a great whooshing sound of wind and that tongues of flames appeared above the believer's heads (see Acts)...so he never knows the details unless he gets a specific vision (like John does in Revelation, or Daniel). The Lord is so cool and creative.
Notice Joel 3:13....swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.....this is mentioned in Mark 4:29.....maturity in spiritual growth.....thoughts?
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
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From my Bible:
ReplyDeleteGod does ot delight in sending hardship nor does He glory in calamity. But to bring a rebellious people - or a disobedient believer - to repentance, He will use trials and even tragedies if He has to. He wants to bless his people, not judge them; and it that takes serious measures, so be it.
This sounds very much like what a parent goes through with a child. Parents do not like punishing children, giving spankings, taking away toys or privileges.....but sometimes this is needed to be done to get a child to understand right and wrong....sometimes it has to be done.
Another comment:
ReplyDelete2:13...."So rend your heart, and not your garments! Return to the Lord your God, For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and he relents from doing harm."
God does not want us just going through the motions.....he wants our heart. He does not want you to just show up to church, but to carry yourself as a christian all the time. He does not want just prayers in church, but YOUR
prayers from YOUR heart....