CHANGING THE SPIRITUAL CLIMATE: INDIFFERENCE
Joel 2:1, 12-28 (1:1-5, 13-16)
Joel is listed as one of the minor prophets, in contrast to the major prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or Daniel. They are called the minor prophets simply because the short length of their works. The title, “minor prophets”, I believe, is somewhat mis-leading. Many people think that because they are minor prophets, that their messages must not be all that important. However, I beg to differ. God’s word is divinely inspired, all of it and that includes the so called minor prophets.
There is not a lot that we know about the prophet Joel. All the information we have about him from his prophecy is that he was the son of Pethuel (Pethuel means vision of God). This prophecy is primarily addressed to the nation of Judah, the southern kingdom and even more specifically, Jerusalem. There is not anything within this book that would tell of when it was written, we have no listed date, nor any references to any date within the book. Some scholars believe that Joel was written about 400 BC, others believe it was written as early as 800 BC. Perhaps no date is given so we will not be guilty of dating the message as being too old. The message of this book applies to us today in America and especially to the church. It is a message that is not too old nor is it one that can’t apply to any generation.
What is the message of this minor prophet? To understand his message, we must first understand the spiritual climate of his time. If the book was written around the 800’s, Joel would have been close to the time period of Isaiah and many of the problems of Isaiah’s time would also be faced by Joel and his people. There are certain “keys” found through out the prophecy that give us insight to the spiritual climate of Joel’s time.
In chapter 1:5, we find the word “awake” as it is addressed to the drunkards. This implies either sleep or slumber. The people of Joel’s day had a lack of awareness of the times they were living in. They were asleep spiritually, intoxicated with alcohol. In chapter 1:5, the command is given to be ashamed. Apparently there were those who were filled with pride and arrogance and failed to understand that God was the One in control. In chapter 2:12, we find the phrase “all your heart”. Also in chapter 3:14, we find reference to those “in the valley of decision”. The Hebrew word for decision is the word "charuwts" meaning decision, this comes from a threshing instrument that was sharp or sharp-pointed. The idea here is of something being balanced upon the sharp end of an object, and could fall either way. This tells us that many were on the edge of their commitment to God, they were half hearted, not totally sold out for the Lord. Another key that we find in Joel is in chapter 2:13, in the phrase “rend your hearts and not your garments. The rending of garments was an outward sign of repentance and deep sorrow among the Jewish people. Outwardly, things looked good, but God sees inwardly, and judges accordingly. No doubt, people were making a show of religion, doing all the right religious rituals to do, yet, inwardly, their hearts were far, far away from God.
One final key is found through out the book, chapter 1:9, 1:13, 1:16, and 2:17, all make references to either the priesthood, or the temple. The implication here is that the priests, the ministers of the Lord, were unconcerned about the people under them. As long as they received their portions, they had no concern for making intercession and carrying the needs of the people before God.
This was a nation that while outwardly looked religious, inwardly they were away from God, lukewarm and indifferent. If Joel was written about the 800’s BC, this would have been before Judah fell into deep idolatry. Before anyone falls away from God outwardly, inwardly they fall away from God, such was the condition of Judah. The prophecy of Joel points out certain truths that we need to see today.
I. THERE IS THE SOBER CONDEMNATION OF INDIFFERENCE.
1. Let me begin by asking you a series of questions, “Are you as excited for God now as when you were first saved?” “Are you as concerned about spiritual things now as when you were first saved?”, and “Do you love the Lord as much now as when you were first saved?”
2. There is a song that states, “He gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by, Oh what a love between my Lord and I. I keep falling in love with Him, over and over and over and over again.” Isn’t that the way that it should be, that every day, we find that the Lord is better to us than we could ever imagine, that God’s promises are real and trustworthy? As we find these things out, it ought to excite us all the more for the Lord. I believe that God wants us excited as Christians.
3. Have you ever noticed how Satan’s tactics change over time and growth in the life of a Christian? When a person first gets saved, Satan knows that they are not long removed from the pleasures of the flesh, so he tempts them with the old sinful lifestyle. However, as the individual grows in the Lord, Satan realizes that this is no longer as successful as it first was (I’m not saying that he won’t still use it but generally he mixes in some other methods as well). So he changes his approach. One of Satan’s tactics that he uses very well against the “more mature” Christians is the lie that says now since you have grown, there no need to be as concerned about spiritual things as you once were. He will tell you that it’s alright as a baby Christian, but now you have arrived, you can just sit back and let others be concerned about such things as witnessing, or spiritual worship. Someone of your maturity doesn’t need to be seen as a fanatic.
4. So often what happens is that people loose their zeal for God, and become content to just go through the motions of serving God. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; I don’t believe Paul was so much as talking about church attendance for someone said that more people go to church today than any other time. I believe he was talking about those who fall away from a true sincere faith in God, who loose their zeal for God and just go through the motions of serving God. “Having a form of godliness but denying the power” would be a good way to describe this generation. This is what happened to Judah. They had became indifference concerning their relationship with God.
5. One thing that people fail to realize is the danger that comes from this type of spiritual climate. It doesn’t take long for the person who is just going through the motions to fall asleep spiritually. A person who is asleep is not aware of what is going on around them, they are not really concerned about what is going on around them. They could be close to death and not even be aware of it. The house could be on fire and they not know until it is too late. Indifference leads to spiritual sleep.
6. I believe that one of the greatest sins found in the church today, is not adultery, even though it is there, it is not hatred and prejudice , even though it is there, it is not gossip, even though it is there, but I believe that one of the greatest problems in the church today is the sin of indifference. Every day there are souls that slip off into eternity and we don’t seem to care, every day Satan enters our homes and families and steals from us and we don’t care. We go through the motions of having church, but we don’t allow God to make a difference in our lives. We have become lukewarm concerning our relationship with God.
7. God told the Laodicean church that they needed to repent.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
8. Israel had grown lukewarm, they were indifference to the things of God and here God judges them by sending a swarm of locusts against them (Joel 1:3-6). Here in chapter 2, God tells them that the day of the Lord is coming. For those who will not seek after the Lord, judgment is coming. While certainly God is a God of love, He is also a God of judgment, and He will not tolerate indifference, He will judge us and chasten us. God can not tolerate indifference among His people. We are often guilty of thinking that God will not judge His church but listen to what His Word says.
1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
II. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT COMMANDS GIVEN.
1. It is interesting to note that in chapters one and two, an unusual pattern developes. There is an alternating pattern of God either describing what He is doing or going to do, and then a command is given. In chapter two, in verses 1-11 God describes the coming of the day of the Lord, and then, in verse 12, He gives a command. He says, “turn ye even to Me with all your heart”.
2. This is written in the imperative tense, in other words, it is a command. The Hebrew word is the word shuwb {shoob} and it means “come back to”.
3. God is telling His people that if you want to get out from under judgment, you must come back to Me. Today our society is under the judgment of God. Abortion is widely practiced in our society, even to the extent that it is also within the church. Pornography has addicted Christian men via the internet, some are saying that up to 40% of evangelical men have viewed porn over the internet. 4. Yet as bad as all this is, I believe the worst thing that grips our churches today is the lack of love for the lost, the lack of concern for the lost. People will fight over the color of the walls of the church, yet can’t get excited about multitudes dying everyday and spending eternity without God.
5. People come to receive their blessing, to get from God, and they have the audacity to complain if they are asked to serve in ministry. I received an email this week from a lady that attends one of our churches where the attendance was just over 1400, yet they can’t find anyone to teach Sunday School. Everybody wants their blessing yet is unconcerned about those without Christ. We can not think for a moment that type of attitude will escape the judgment of God.
6. Here God gives significant commands to His people. God is concerned about their lack of unconcern.
7. First is the command to “blow the trumpet and sound the alarm”. Again, this is written in the imperative tense. This is a command. Now I realize that we don’t blow trumpets in church that much today. What I believe the prophet was saying is be concerned about your lack of unconcern. To blow the trumpet was to announce to the people that something important was occurring. The Lord said the reason you are to do this is that the “Day of the Lord” is coming. God will judge unconcerned lifestyles. We have the responsibility to let people know that God still judges indifference.
8. Next is the command to return back to the Lord, found in verse 12. The Lord says to give Him all of your heart. How many times are we guilty of just half-way doing what God says to do? The Lord must be Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. It is not enough to just give God control over part of your life, that will certainly lead to indifference. He must have control over all of your life. He is calling, “Turn to Me with all your heart”.
9. Next the command is given to “rend their hearts, and not their garments”. Among the Jews, a sign of extreme sorrow was to take the outer garment, and tear it as a sign of mourning and sorrow. What God was saying to them was this, Do more than just go through the motions of being sorry for your sins.” Truly look at your heart and rend it. Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
10. For those who rend (break) their hearts, God is close to them.
III. THERE IS SPECIAL COMFORT GIVEN.
1. God gives words of special comfort. Once we deal with our indifference toward the things of God, and follow the commands that Joel gives, God promises special words of comfort. This comfort falls into three aspects.
A. First, God invites us to see His Nature.
1. In verse 13, we first see the nature of God.
Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
2. Note that God is described 1st as gracious. He is full of grace and mercy. If we will but turn to Him, He will be gracious to us.
Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
3. God is also seen as being slow to anger. If we received what we so richly deserved every time that we failed God, we would be in serious trouble indeed. We do not need to fear that God will turn us away.
B. Next, God invites us to see His Nurture.
1. God assures them that if they turn to Him, God will give them an abundance. Verse 24, the floors full of wheat = a blessed harvest. God desires for His church to be involved in the harvest, but because we have become indifferent, and intoxicated with worldly cares, we no longer have the abundance of a good harvest, but when we return back to Him, when we follow the commands that He has given, He promises an abundant harvest.
2. Verse 24 also mentions the fats, or vats being filled with wine and oil. Wine is used through out the Old Testament as a symbol for joy.
Isaiah 24:11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
Isaiah 16:10 And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
3. I believe that the Lord is saying if we return completely unto Him, He will restore the fullness of joy.
4. Verse 25 promises restoration of what has been lost because of the judgment of God. Satan may steal from us when we are intoxicated and not aware, but when we return back to Him, He will restore all that has been stolen away.
C. Finally God invites us to see His Nearness.
1. God promises in verse 27 that He will be near. He will be in the midst of His people. His people will experience His closeness.
2. Then notice what the prophet says in verse 28. God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh. God will be near for His Spirit will be upon His people.
Ezekiel 39:29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
3. When we return to Him, when we get hungry for our God, He said He would pour out His Spirit and we can experience the nearness of God.
