Call To Lament And Wail Series

Joel Pt4 A Call to Lament and Wail

Introduction/Review

The name of the prophet Joel means- the Lord is God.

The world in which we live is God’s world and God has a program and He does not answer to any man.

In Revelation- concerning the seventh trumpet blast-

Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”

This is in essence the message of Joel-

kingdom of- world will become-Kingdom of God.

Joel 1

v1.4

Natural plague- leads to economic disaster.

Laura Ingalls Wilder- On the banks of Plum Creek- locust plague- Pg 192-205

Locust plague- classic form of judgment in the Bible-

Egypt- 8th plague- locust plague (Ex 10.1-20)

Moses warned Israel- turn from God in- Promised Land- face locust plagues (Deut 28.15, 25, 38)

Rev 9.1-12- 5th trumpet- locust plague.

Today- see cataclysmic natural disasters increasing- how do we interpret these events?

Joel saw- events of his day- God’s judgment on sin.

At what point will God say to us- enough is enough?

Gen 6.5-7, 11-13 earth- corrupt/God- destroy it

God- distraught w/city- sent Jonah- warn of judgment-

Jon 1:2 (NASB) “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

How about the sin in our own lives? city? nation?

Do our prayers going up before God outweigh our sin?

v1.2-13

Last week- saw-Lord warns various people of judgment-

elders, drunkards, virgins, bridegrooms

priests, farmers, vinedressers

What is coming will affect everyone in the land.

v1.5 (Rev 6.6)

The wine is cut off because- grape vines destroyed.

Drunkard- asleep/unaware of what is happening around them- totally focused/absorbed on their needs.

Today- substance abuse derailing- next generation.

Do we realize how drunk we are- illegal/legal drugs, entertainment, media, computer games, music?

v1.6

Locust are like an army invading the land- also possible reference to coming invasion by Babylon- 586BC.

Our land has been invaded by-

pornography, alcohol, drugs,

generational hatred, racial prejudices,

unbelief, rise of secularism, atheism, humanism.

v1.7

Locust- eat everything green/strip the bark off a tree.

Figs/fig trees- often symbols of Israel- God’s people.

Fig trees-stripped-picture of Israel’s spiritual barrenness

Certainly today much of the church is spiritually barren.

What can we do to turn around the spiritual barrenness of the church? Not be barren ourselves!

2 Tim 2:15 (NASB) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Diligent- to hasten do something, to exert oneself.

Christianity is an active religion, not a passive one.

v1.8

What can be more tragic than a bride losing her husband on their wedding day?- this is serious!

Marriage- covenant relationship between two people.

In a spiritual sense- Israel was in a covenant with God.

In a covenant the blessings are greatly multiplied as well as the curses for breaking that covenant.

Israel- violated their covenant- judgment was coming.

We are likewise in a covenant relationship w/God.

Have we violated our covenant- is judgment coming?

1 Pet 4:17 (NASB) For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

The solutions to the problems of our nation- begin w/us.

Joel is all about the relationship God wants with His people and the covenant He made with them.

Judgment brings pressure to cause us to pause and ask serious questions about our life.

Isaiah 26:9–10 (NASB) (Hos 2.6-7)

9At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

10Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the Lord.

Problems help us make choices we should have made.

v1.9

Grain and drink necessary to perform religious offerings.

This is also- religious disaster- church- in trouble today.

There is too much compromise in the church today.

v1.10-12

Agricultural disaster- leads to weather extremes, etc.

Economic leaders-dismayed-means of support removed

It is so serious there is no joy in the hearts of people.

v1.13-14

Priests- spiritual leaders- lead the nation in repentance.

God calls us to assemble because He delights- mercy-

Mic 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love.

To lessen/avoid judgment- God is asking us to fast/pray- corporately- overall a pretty simple response.