Blow A Trumpet In Zion Series

Joel Pt5 Blow a Trumpet in Zion

Introduction/Review

Continue study of Joel- Joel 2.

Testimonies from last weeks challenge-

Last Sunday- challenged us-examine our lives/ask God-

what adjustments we can make to respond to God’s call to repent/fast/pray- for our nation?

Joel 2 Outline

v2.1-11 military invasion (reiterate locust invasion)

v2.12-17 people’s response in times of judgment

v2.18-32 the promise of God’s blessing

v2.1-2

Some context for Joel 2- Moses-

prophesied what would happen if Israel rebelled-

Deut 28.38-42

prophesied- God would bring a military invasion-

Deut 28.47-55, 64-65

Timeline-

Moses- 1500bc

Joel/locust- 600bc

Babylonian invasion- 586bc

God uses military invasions to shake/judge nations-

see this in- OT/NT. (Mat 24.6-8, Lk 21.20-24, Zech 14.2-5)

Lk 19.43-44 (Roman invasion 40 years later)

Joel has a message for us today as well-

1 Thes 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

Demonic deception- everything will continue as always.

Joel is saying- prepare yourself for what is coming.

Preparing is not storing food/water/guns so others starve and we live- (not saying do not store).

Joel- spiritual preparation- prepare- relationship w/God.

v2.1

Blow a trumpet- prophetic proclamation- alerts people to coming danger- so they repent/cry out to God.

Zion-narrow sense-Israel, broad sense-all Gods people- the trumpet blast is a call to God’s people.

Amos 3:7 (NASB95) Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.

If we know disaster is coming and we do nothing-

Ezek 33:6 (NASB) ‘But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.’

v2.2

Joel compares coming army to- morning clouds- it is sure to come and no one will escape seeing it.

A day of darkness is going to encompass Israel (Babylonian invasion) and eventually- whole earth.

As the morning light gradually increases in intensity, so will the gloom/darkness of the end-times.

A great and might people-looking ahead to-largest army the earth will ever see- anti-Christ army. (Joel 3.2)

No army will be able to defeat the anti-Christ army-

only Jesus will defeat the anti-Christ.

v2.3

This happened to Israel during Babylonian/Roman invasions- will happen again at the end of the age.

Picture of an army- shows no mercy- very destructive-

Nazis- WW2- bombed an area before invaded and burned everything when they left it.

v2.4-6

Terrible time for Israel- the people are in great anguish.

At end of the age- Jerusalem is- anti-Christ main target, but he will come against many nations. (Lk 21.26)

V2.7-9

Picture of Babylonian army but also a prophetic picture of the anti-Christ army- the army will be-

disciplined, courageous, invincible, invasive.

They will be- cruel army, not just satisfied w/conquering.

v2.10

Where else do we see v10?

Act 2.14-21

Partially fulfilled during Roman invasion- 70ad.

Earth did not quake before Babylonia army- now talking about an end-time event.

Jerusalem/nations/entire earth will be shaken-

Haggai 2:6–7 (NASB95)

6“For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

7‘I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

The end-time picture speaks to us about how God is in absolute control of everything- including-

the anti-Christ army and all of creation.

(Lk 21.25-28, Isa 40.15-17, 25-26)

Do we believe God is a good and just God?

What we believe will determine how we respond to the end-time message.

v2.11

His army- Babylonian army was God’s army in the sense that it fulfilled His purposes.

Isa 10:5 (NASB) Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hands is My indignation,

God can use evil men to discipline evil or even discipline His own people.

God does not cause them to be evil, but He uses them.

God uses -righteous/unrighteous- bring about His plans.

v2.12-17 (do not read at this point)

Here we see a change in the message.

Again Joel addresses how people should respond in times of judgment and national crisis.

God thinks so highly of man that He-

1. gave him a free will- ability to make-

real choices that make real differences

choices for righteousness or sin

choices that provide doorways- angels/demons.

2. desires to govern Creation in partnership w/man-

this happens through intercession

we tell God what He tells us to tell him

Speaking of Jesus Christ-

Heb 7:25 (NASB) ... He always lives to make intercession for them.