Joel – September 11

It’s interesting that we are reading the book of Joel on the 11th anniversary of 9/11. Just like what happened eleven years ago, this book is a call to “awake” (Joel 1:5). The prophecy begins by telling the people how God’s blessing has been removed from the land. After telling them of their present condition, He tells them to “Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD” (Joel 1:14). Like many Old Testament prophecies, these words applied to them, but more specifically they spoke about the end days; Joel 1:15 say, “Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand.” After chapter 1 tells of the crop failure they were experiencing, chapter 2 tells of the fierce army that was coming.  After telling them of the impending judgment of the army that was coming to destroy them, the LORD reminds them that He desires to have mercy if they will only repent. He says 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.”

Since the Israelites first took the land, there has always been a fight for Israel to keep the land that the LORD made a covenant to give to the decedents of Abraham. The LORD says in Joel 3:2, that He will bring the nations into the valley of Jehoshaphat because they have scattered His people and “they have also divided up My land.” The LORD will gather a remnant of Israel back into their land in the last days to receive the Lord Jesus. Israel will dwell in peace in their land under the Kingship of Jesus the Messiah.