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[Today's Comments]
Passage: Joel 1-3

On Tuesday, September 29, 2015, Yujin wrote,

And I will never again make you a reproach among the nations (Joel 2:19).

Then My people will never be put to shame (Joel 2:26).

And My people will never be put to shame (Joel 2:27).

So Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will pass through it no more (Joel 3:17).

But Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem for all generations (Joel 3:20).

There is something so comforting in these words. Do you see it? "Never again", "never", "no more", "forever". These expressions suggest time without end, a permanent condition, an eternal state. Later in the Book of Revelations, we find similar expressions:

There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).

No longer will there be any curse (Revelation 22:3).

There will be no more night... And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5).

God gave Joel a prophecy of the Day of the LORD. Admittedly, it is a day of severe and final judgment, but it is also the immediate prelude to the establishment of God's eternal kingdom, even a new heaven and a new earth. The glory of this kingdom is that God will ensure its continuity without any possibility of human failure. This kingdom will be the answer to Solomon's despairing observation that everything is meaningless under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:2,14). When things are only temporary, they have no enduring worth and so are ultimately meaningless, but the promise of God is eternal life, and so God makes the meaningless meaningful by virtue of an eternal hope. We know this hope to be embodied in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Friends, is this not the encouragement we provide to one another when we are anxious about our lives? We remind each other to have an eternal perspective. When see things with an eternal perspective, we will realize that nothing temporal can thwart our hope for long. The expression "This too shall pass" is not in the Bible, but it is biblical. We find it's meaning in passages like this:

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT).

Let us then pray to God, who gives us an eternal hope and frees us from the weight of temporal concerns (cf. Philippians 4:6-7). Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who bore the cross of our shame in order that He might share His eternal glory with us, who trust in Him (Hebrews 12:2-3). Let us run the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1), fulfilling every good work prepared by God for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), being careful to make the most of every opportunity to both know and live the will of God (Ephesians 5:15-17).

Passage: Joel 1-3

On Monday, September 29, 2014, Yujin wrote,

Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
And relenting of evil.
Who knows whether He will not turn and relent
And leave a blessing behind Him (Joel2:13-14).

There is a call here to return to the LORD; that is, to turn from their sinful ways - their idolatry, their immorality, their acts of injustice, their disregard for God's Law, and their failure to trust in Him. 

The basis for acceptance is God's character - gracious, compassioate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil. 

God does not have to forgive. He does not have to hold back His judgment. But He may. He may because of that side of His character that is marked by compassion and faithfulness to His promise of blessing.

The best thing that Israel can do is not to try their very best to find a way out for themselves. It is not to put up their best defense against the oncoming enemy. And it is certainly not to resign themselves to their fate and continue sinning. 

No, the best thing for Israel is to turn back to the LORD with broken and contrite hearts. The best thing for them to do, knowing that God is against them, is to humble themselves and hope for God's compassion, forgiveness and healing.

Friends, can we not take this to heart as well? If we find ourselves in sin, and we know that God is not pleased, is it not best for us to humble ourselves and pray for His forgiveness, healing, and restoration? This is the instruction that I find from John's epistle:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

And let us be quick about it. Let us not fester in our sins or be more concerned with covering our tracks rather than finding healing from God. It is not getting our affairs in order that makes right what is wrong, but it is receiving God's forgiveness, healing and restoration.

I am daily reminded of my depravity, for I can confess with Paul that when I am seeking to obey God's law, the ugliest and vilest sinful inclination is right there with me (cf. Romans 7:14-20). I will declare, as he did, 

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25).

Thanks be to God though Jesus Christ our Lord!! Why? The very next chapter...

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

Because of the Lord's great faithfulness in keeping His promise to us of forgiveness and cleansing, we are not condemned. Praise God! Today, I wrap this promise around me like the warmest security blanket. I wield it like the most impregnable shield. I cling to it as if dangling from a precipice at the edge of the world. 

Passage: Joel 1-3

On Monday, September 30, 2013 (Last Updated on 9/29/2014), Yujin wrote,

It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
“Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
“I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire and columns of smoke.
 “The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Will be delivered (Joel 2:28-32).

In Acts 2:16-21 the apostle Peter refers to this prophecy as finding some kind of realization on the day of Pentecost. He also interprets the events described by Joel as events of "the last days". But when you look at Luke's description of the miraculous events of Pentecost, there seems to be a disconnect between what he describes and what Joel prophesied. The only point in common seems to be mention of the Holy Spirit.

This has led many commentators to suggest that Peter was citing Joel not to show complete fulfillment at the day of Pentecost but a partial or beginning of fulfillment. After all, only the disciples had the Spirit come upon them so that they were able to speak with other tongues, that is, in languages that they had not learned. Yet, the prophecy says that the Spirit would fall upon all flesh.

What is more, there is no mention in Acts of blood, fire, and columns of smoke, where the sun would be darkened and the moon turned to blood. However, Joel's prophecy does find great parallel with the sixth seal in the prophecy of the Book of Revelation:

I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places (Revelation 6:12-14).

Could it be that Peter was describing the inauguration of "the last days"? In other words, Acts 2 was the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel regarding the Last Days. Joel's message was one of repentance in view of imminent judgment in his day, but it appears that he also spoke of a future day of ultimate judgment and salvation.

It is of this future time that Peter said had begun with Pentecost with the outpouring the Holy Spirit for those whom God would call to Himself:

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself” (Acts 2:38-39).

Peter declared that the prophecy of Joel had begun with the advent of the church and the giving of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Spirit was given and visions and prophecies were prevalent in the apostolic church; however, none of the latter prophecies of Joel were yet fulfilled. What is more, even the manifestations of the Holy Spirit were limited and appear to have ceased with the apostolic age.

There is then a future fulfillment for the prophecy of Joel. The "last days" that was inaugurated at Pentecost was not completed in the apostolic age. There will come a future time when the latter signs of Joel will be fulfilled. I believe these latter signs will be fulfilled in the Day of the Lord, as described in detail in the Book of Revelation. I believe that we will not be a part of that judgment if that judgment were to happen in our day, because the Bible says that believers will be raptured into heaven and escape the day of God's wrath (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Now, Peter did not know when the actual end would come, for Jesus said that no one would know this. As far as he knew, it could have happened immediately following Pentecost. Paul did not know either. Thus, these apostles wrote with imminent judgment and restoration in view. As we intrepret their words, we must keep this in mind. Just as the sudden outpouring of the Spirit with signs and wonders during the days of Jesus and the apostles, there will come an awesome manifestation of God's judgment with fire, blood, and smoke on earth and in the heavens in the Day of the Lord. 

What is more, just as the early signs were limited in time (visions, prophecies, etc.), the latter signs would also be limited in time. 

Friends, the enduring promises of Scripture for us are not in the signs (i.e. miraculous gifts of tongues, prophecy, healings, etc.) but in the promises of God regarding our salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is a guarantee of our salvation. This is our hope. This is our message. This is our motivation to trust and obey God.

Passage: Joel 1-3

On Saturday, October 1, 2011 (Last Updated on 9/30/2013), Fernando wrote,

How should Joel 2 be read?

V25 destruction
(Timeline: by the babylonians)
V26 restoration
(Timeline: temple 2 built)
V27 a promise to never again be put to shame
V30-31 signs of the end of the age
(Timeline: Act 2 references to here)
Then..
V32And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and AMONG the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
(Timeline: near or at the end of the age)

1)If this is read in a time line the promise of 'no more shame' would need to be extended eternally beyond this age. Since between v 27-30 the temple was destroyed, the jews displaced and they are put into shame. Is there another way to read these passages?

2)Verse 32 says those in Zion (zion=the place of safety during the troubled times - in the time when the signs of the end of the age occur) will have the elect which will also be in the presence of 'stow-aways,' the 'survivors? So 'zion couldn't refer to heaven...

This pushes me to accept a non-sudden end of our age, but something else, like a post-millenial etc kind of paradigm, since it doesn't seem to follow that 'stow-aways' will not be in Zion (Jesus)..
How should Joel 2 be read?

----------------

(October 1, 2012) To answer my own question from last time. 


25-27, points to the destruction by Assyria, a restoration and a promise to not shame further. I don't think is necessarily speaks of the perfection state, our glorification to come, but could simply be saying the sin will be forgotten.

28-29, are the signs of Acts 2.

32, what is said in the New Living Translation of refugees makes it sound like there will be unbeleivers among the saint. But reading in the esv I read it more as there will be believers among the unbeleivers. Since...

Acts 2:20 speaks of these signs being in fulfillment on that day.

Passage: Joel 1-3

On Friday, September 30, 2011 (Last Updated on 9/30/2012), Yujin wrote,

Friends, we read this in Joel 2:12-13,

Now, therefore,” says the LORD,
“ Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
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.

The words "rend your heart, and not your garments" is like the expression in Samuel, "To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22) and David's prayer in Psalm 51:16-17,

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

So, what is the point of these repeated expressions? They all point to a person's attitude and behavior. God desires those who humbly trust Him and obey Him from their hearts.

Since Joel pictures the Great Tribulation of Revelation, his message has significance not only for the generation of Jews in the OT but also for believers in our age as well. Both OT and NT believers are looking ahead to the End Times judgment of God. Therefore, how should we live in view of this coming reality? Joel teaches us to live in heart-felt devotion to God.

Why does he write of fasting, weeping and mourning (Joel 2:12)? He recognizes the natural sinfulness of people, even believers, who must constanly battle their sin natures. There is a kind of irony to Jesus' Beattitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, where He says things like "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matthew 5:4). Oftentimes the word "blessed" can be translated as "happy," and oftentimes mourning suggests unhappiness. So, essentially Jesus is saying "Happy are those who are unhappy." Reading that, you may think, huh? Jesus is speaking of "kingdom-minded" people. Paul writes that in this life believers will be groaning in eager hope to be released from their sinful bodies (Romans 8:23). James gives similar instructions to the Jewish believers in the dispersion:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:8-10).

Therefore, while we speak of the "happy Christian," let us understand that the Christian's happiness is not derived from their experience in this life but rather from the life to come. In this life the normal Christian life is very much characterized by sorrow. Please don't confuse this with sorrow over losing a job or over losing money or over an argument with your spouse. The sorrow in these passages deal with sorrow over personal sin and living in a sinful world. As we seek to trust and obey God, we must "rend our hearts," such that a healthy and likely persistent sorrow over sin becomes our present reality.