Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
1/14
THEBOOKOFJOEL
Lesson2,Chapter1Continued
Oneofthemostinteresting,andpossiblysurprising,thingswehavefoundinour
studyoftheMinorProphetsofHosea,Amos,JonahandnowJoel,isthatGodwill
instigate…Hewillcommand…disasterstohappennotonlyuponthosewhodo
wickedthingsandwhodonotacknowledgeHimastheirGod,butalsoagainst
thosewhoactwickedlybutDOknowandacknowledgeHim.Ifullyrealizethat
thisfliesinthefaceofespeciallymodern-eraChristiantheologythatassumes
thatGodhaschangedandnowoffersonlymercy…neverpunishmentor
disaster…tothosewhocallonHisName,regardlessofourwickedbehavior.Yet,
clearlyintheBiblethecriteriaforifGodmightdecidetosendcalamityuponHis
ownisourobedienceversusourdisobediencetoHislawsandcommandments.
Asthese4booksofProphecy(andotherBiblebooksaswell)explain,the
obedienceGoddemandsofHisworshippersisbaseduponHisoneandonly
writtenmoralcode,otherwiseknownasTheLawofMoses.Thatdynamichas
neverchanged,andtheincorrectnotionthatthisprinciplenolongerappliesto
Christfollowersespecially,istheprimaryreasonthatIhavesuchconcernforthe
Westernworldandespeciallyformyownnation,theUSA,aswehavesunk
beyondmeredisobedienceintooutrightdefianceofGod.Evilisnotjustdone,it
isglorified,andoftensaidtobeincompliancewiththenotionsofloveandmercy.
Myadvicetousall:prepare!Iurgeyoutopreparespiritually…now…andalsoto
preparephysicallyandtangibly…now…asyouwouldforahurricaneorwar,or
someotherseriousdisaster.Inourfast-pacedworld,disastershappenand
spreadatlightningspeed.Thingshappensofastthatifyouarenotalready
prepared,itistoolate.Bolsteryouremergencysupplies;prepareyourpantries.
Setsomemoneyandresourcesasideandmakethemeasilyaccessible.Don’tdo
thisoutoffearandpanic,butratherinwisdomandforewarning.GodgaveusHis
Wordtobelearnedandactedoutinourlives.Hehastolduswhatisgoingto
happen;willyoubelieveit?AsBelieversandasstudentsofGod’sWord,weknow
inadvancewhatiscoming(evenifwecan’tpinpointpreciselywhenorhow),and
weknowwe’renotgoingtoescapeitanymorethantherighteoussegmentof
ancientIsraelwhoalsohadtoendure.Whenitcomestonationaljudgment,all
suffertogether.AndwhatwehavebeenreadinginHosea,Amos,JonahandJoel
isaboutnationalorcorporate…notindividual…judgment.Thegoodnewsisthat
thosemanywhoheededthewarningsofGod’sProphetsintheancienttimes
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
2/14
fairedconsiderablybetterthanthosewhoblewitoff.Theywerefarbetter
preparedforwhatwascomingsotheysufferedmuchless,andbetternavigated
throughthedifficulttimes.Thesameappliestous.
Inourpreviouslesson,weendedatJoelchapter1verse5,whenGodcalledto
thedrunkardstomournbecausesoonthewinetheycravewon’tbeavailableto
them,sosevereisthecalamityHeisabouttosetinmotion.Whyaredrunkards
addressed?Itisprimarilybecausetheyaretheepitomeofirresponsibilityand
ambivalencetoallthatisgoingonaroundthem.So,theyareheldupas
representativeofthepeopleofJudahandJerusalemingeneral,asGodsees
them.TheyhavepulledawaysofarfromthetruthoftheTorahandthe
Scriptures,succumbingtothetemptationsandwaysoftheirpaganneighbors
andtothesillydoctrinesoftheirreligiousleadership,thattheyareobliviousto
theirprecariouscondition.TheythinkthattheyarelivingasYehovehwantsthem
tolive,anddoingasHecommandsthemtodo,andsotheyblessedand
protected.WhattheyrefusetohearfromtheirProphetsisthattheyhave
exchangeddivinetruthforalieandtheyareabouttopayahorrible,unexpected
priceforit.TheProphetshavebeenwarningthemfordecadesthatthisisthe
case,buttheleadershipandthepeoplehaveignoredthosewarningsandgone
rightonbehavingastheyhadbeen.Lethewhohasears,hear.
Let’sre-readthe1
st
chapterofJoel.
RE-READJOELCHAPTER1all
Beginninginverse5weseeaseriesofcertainsegmentsofIsraelitesocietybeing
toldwhatisgoingtohappentothem.Itbeginswithdrunkards,thenturnsto
peopleingeneral,thentofarmers,andfinallytopriests.And,aswiththe
drunkards,theintentofthecallisforallJudahtocomeoutoftheirstuporand
becomesober….butalsotoprepare!
Verse6throwsakindofmonkeywrenchintotheworksthatcanbeconfusing.
Aftertheopeningversesspeakaboutaninvasionoflocusts,verse6beginswith
“Foramightyandnumberlessnationhasinvadedmyland”.Therefore,many
Bibleacademicsseeinthesewordsthatthedescriptionofthelocustsismeant
onlyasametaphorforanationthatisgoingtoinvadeandsweepoverJudah.
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
3/14
Otherscholarssaythatthewordnationmeansthelocusts;thatis,theterm
nationisusedfigurativelyfortheswarmofgrasshoppers.Whatishappeningis
thatJoelisusingthecommonliterarytechniqueofsimiletomakethepoint.
Whatissimile?Itisafigureofspeechthatdirectlycomparestwodifferentthings
thathavesimilarattributes.Asimpleexampleofasimilemightbe“hewasasbig
asahouse”.HeisNOTahouse,butbecauseahouseisinherentlybigwhen
comparedtothesizeofaman,thentheideaisthatacertainmanis
exceptionallylarge.Aswarmislocustsisnotanation.But,justasanation
operatesunderacentralcommander,sodotheselocusts(theircommanderis
God).Thesimileiscarriedevenfurtherwhenthislocust-nationissaidtohave
teethlikealion.Neitherlocustsnornationshavelion’steeth,butthepointof
comparisonisobvious.Alionwasperhapsthemostfearedpredatorofthat
biblicaleraanditrepresentsaferociouscreaturethatremorselesslydevoursits
helplessprey.Thiscomparisonusedforitsshockvalueisrathercommoninthe
Bible,andwefinditinJob,Jeremiah,ProverbsandthePsalms.So,yes,thisisan
invasionofvoraciousgrasshoppersandnotthearmyofanenemynation.
AninterestingsidenoteisthewordingthatspeaksofJudahas:“myland”.Is
thisJoelspeaking,orisitYehoveh?Sincethisentirepassageisanoraclefrom
God,itcanonlybetheLordspeaking.And,asIdiscussinteachingsontheTorah,
indeed“theland”(meaningCanaan,theHolyLand)belongstotheLord;itisHis
land.IsraelwasnevertoseetheirresidingintheLandasanymorethana
conditional,long-termlease.Theywerethetenants;Godwasthelandlord.
Israelwasnevertoseethemselvesaspropertyownersthewaywedo,today,in
theWesternworld,wherebyindeedwecanownexclusivetitletoapieceofland
inperpetuity.This,perhaps,wasthechiefpurposeofthelawofJubileethat
requiredpeoplewhoacquireland(withintheHolyLand)fromsomeoneelsefor
aprice,togiveitbackatthe50-yearJubilee.Ithighlightedtheissueoftenancy
versusownership.Thus,whenGodarrangedforIsraeltobeexiled,itcanbestbe
comparedtotheevictionofawickedtenantfornotcarryingoutthetermsofthe
leaseagreement.
Verse7portraysthelocust’s“teeth”atwork.Theydecimatethefood-bearing
plantsofJudah.And,again,noticethatitis“MYvines”and“MYfigtrees”.These
plantsbelongtoGod,nottotheresidentsofJudah.Yehovehismerelyallowing
HispeopletheuseoftheproducethatcomesfromtheplantsandsoilHe
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
4/14
created…wateredbytherainwhichHegavethem…whichiswhysomeofthat
produceMUSTbegivenbacktoHimaspaymentintheformofFirstfruits
offeringsandinothersacrificialofferingsthatrequireaportionofthecropstobe
giventothepriesthood.Thetreesandvinesarestrippedbarebythelocusts
andlefttodie.TheintentistosaythatnotonlyisJudah’simmediatefoodsupply
suddenlygone,butalsothatthedamageislonglasting;itwillcauseextreme
shortagesandhungerforatleastacoupleofyears.
Verse8usesanexampleoftheacutedespairthatthisunparalleledattackof
locustsuponJudahcaused.Itislikethatofavirginwhohaslostherhusband.Let
meexplain,becauseatfirstglancethismakeslittlesense:amarriedwomenis
neveralsoavirgin!Tosayitanotherway,howcanavirgin(abethulahinHebrew)
alsobesaidtohaveahusband?Here’showitworked.Inthestandardprotocol
ofbiblicalHebrewmarriage,ayoungmaiden…avirgin…firstbecomesbetrothed
toaman.Inthisfirststep,apotentialhusbandcomestothefatheraskingforhis
daughterasawife.Ifagreementisreachedbetweenthefatherandthepotential
husband,abridepriceispaidandnowthegirlisbetrothed.Donotequate
betrothalwithourmodernnotionofengagement;betrothalwasfarstronger
commitment.Uponbetrothal,oftenamarriagedocumentiswrittenup.
Technically,thetwoarenotyetmarried.Infact,theyounggirl…althoughlegally
committedtothisman…willcontinuetoliveathomewithherfather.Yet,every
aspectofHebrewmarriagelawsappliestotherelationship.Ifthegirlwereto
becomeintimatelyinvolvedwithanotherman,thatamountstothecrimeof
adulterywithalltheusualpenaltiesassociatedwithit.Essentially,althoughthe
girlisnotyetmarried,themanhaslegallyacquiredher.Inthejargonoftheera,
theycouldevenbecalledwifeandhusband.Usuallyafteraminimumperiodof
30days,thenthegirlisreleasedbyherfathertogolivewithherhusband.
Sometimesthereisafamilyceremony(thiswasmoresoaswegetnearertothe
NewTestamentera),butmoreoftenthannotitwaslittlemorethanthefather
deliveringthegirltothehomeofhernewhusband.Consummationofthe
marriagewasexpectedtooccurimmediatelyanditwasthatactwhichservedas
theformaltransferofauthorityoverthegirlfromfathertohusband.Nowthey
werelegallymarriedineveryaspect.
So,inthesituationenvisionedinJoel,itisofabetrothedgirlstilllivingwithher
father,andnotyettransferredtoherhusband.Shehasyettoconsummateher
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
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marriageandbeginlifeasalegalwife,andthentodothemostimportantthing
aHebrewwomancoulddo:bearchildren.Therefore,toanyancientIsraelite
readingJoel,theyunderstandthatthereisnogreaterbitterdisappointmentin
thelifeofaHebrewwomanthanwhatisdescribedhere;thatis,duringthe
betrothalperiodthehusbanddies.Anotherwell-knownbiblicalexampleofthis
typeofunmatchablegriefiscontainedinthestoryofJephthahwho,aspartofa
rashvowtoGod,promisedtosacrificethefirstthingthatcamefromhis
residencetogreethimifhecamehomefromawarvictorious;thatfirstthing
unexpectedlyturnedouttobehisoneandonlychild…anunmarrieddaughter.
Theendofthestoryexplainshowshewasgiventimetomournwithsomeofher
friendsbeforesheallowedherselftobeslaughteredonanaltarbyherfatherin
fulfillmentofhisvow.Thetragedywasthatshehadnotyethadtheopportunity
tofulfillherroleasawomanbybecomingawifeandmother.Thisstoryelicitsso
muchemotionfromIsraelitewomen,thathersadtalecontinuestobetoldtothis
day.AmidrashcalledArbaatYamim(thefourdays)wasestablishedto
rememberthistragicevent.Everyyearsince,inthemonthofTevet,ontheday
onwhichJudaismsaysJephthahfulfilledhisvow,waterwouldturntoblood,and
thedaughtersofIsraelwouldweepforfourdaysoverJephthah’sdaughter(this
ceremonialremembranceispreservedintheAddendatoMahzorVitry).
Thewordsaboutthevirgindressinginsackclothissimplythementionofa
standardmourningtraditionofonetakingofftheirregularclothesandputtingon
acoarselywovengarmentusuallymadeofgoat’shair.Heavy,scratchy,smelly,
uglyandallaroundunpleasant.Now,inverse9thefocusshiftstothePriesthood
andtheTemple.Thegrainoffering(theMinchah)andthedrinkoffering(the
necekthatalwaysconsistedofwine)cannolongerbeofferedattheTemplealtar
becausethelocustshavedestroyedthefieldsandthegrapevines.Therewere
severaltypesorcategoriesofsacrificialofferings.Eachkindnearlyalways
includedaMinchahandanecekoffering.Thatis,alegalsacrificecouldn’tbe
performedwithouttheinclusionofthese2elements.Therefore,thisisdescribing
acircumstanceinwhichnoaltarsacrificesofanykindcouldoccur.Forthepeople
ofIsrael,thiswasdevastating;forthepriestsevenmoreso.Thepriestsnotonly
hadthedutyandprestigeofconductingtheregular…evendaily…all-important
altarsacrifices,butalsothebulkoftheirfamilyfoodsupplycameintheformof
theseofferings.So,thepriestshaveeveryreasontolament.
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
6/14
ItisinterestinginthisversethattwocategoriesofTempleworkersaredescribed,
bothgreatlyaffectedbythelossescausedbythelocusts.Thefirstwasthe
priests,thesecondisusuallytranslatedtoEnglishasministers(Sharathin
Hebrew).AsthepriestsarenecessarilyLevites,soaretheSharath.It’sonlythat
thepriestsserveadifferentandhigherfunctionthantheSharath.TheSharath
areinvolvedinotheraspectsofministryaroundtheTemple,suchasmaintaining
thegroundsandinfrastructure,whilethePriestsaredirectlyinvolvedinTemple
ritualandactivities,includingsacrificing.
Ofcourse,theupshotofallthisabouttheTempleisthatifthepriestscannotdo
theirjobsonbehalfofthepeoplebecausethelocustshavedestroyedtheneeded
offerings.Theeffectisthatthepeoplecannotbedeliveredfromtheirsins,or
completeavowoffering,orcelebratethebiblicalfeasts,andmore.Itisn’tmuch
differentthanwhatthey’llexperiencesomeyearslaterwhentheyareconquered
andhauledofftoBabylon.So,thismatterofthenever-before-so-severelocust
plaguehasasbigofaspiritualeffectasphysicaleffectforalltheIsraelitesin
Judah.
MosesinDeuteronomysaysthis:
CJB
Deuteronomy28:33-34
33
Anationunknowntoyouwilleatthefruitofyour
landandlabor.Yes,youwillbecontinuallyoppressedandcrushed,
34
tillyougo
crazyfromwhatyoureyeshavetosee.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:42
42
Thebugswillinheritallyourtreesandtheproduceof
yourland.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:51
51
Theywilldevourtheoffspringofyourlivestockand
theproduceofyoursoil,untilyouhavebeendestroyed.Theywillleaveyou
withoutgrain,wine,oliveoil,oryouryoungcattleandsheep-untiltheyhave
causedyoutoperish.
ThepointisthatwhatishappeningtoJudahisexactlywhattheLawofMoses
prescribeswillhappenascursesifthepeoplerebelanddon’tobeyGod.God
won’t“allow”thesethingstohappen;Hewill“cause”thesethings…Hewill
commandthesethings…tohappen.Whatweoughttonoticeaboutverse10is
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
7/14
thatthemechanismofthecurse(heretofore,thelocustplague),nowseemsto
switchtosomethingelsebecauseGodsaysthatthesoilisgrieving,thenewwine
isdriedup(thislikelymeansthegrapesstillonthevine),andtheoliveoilis
wretched(thatis,thequalityandoutputisterrible).Thismustbespeakingofa
droughtthatfollowsonthefootstepsofthelocusts;a
double-whammy…althoughtheworddroughtisnotfoundhere,itisonlyimplied.
Thefarmersandproducersofwinearetolamentatthisdoublecatastrophe,as
isstatedinverse11.Wecouldgenerallylabeltheseoccupationsasthoseofthe
commonfolk;maybeevenpeasants.Thesearethosewholaborinthefields,and
arenotnecessarilythefield’sowners.Thefirstwordofverse11isyabesh.Ithas
beentranslatedinanumberofdifferentwaysfromashamedtodespairto
confounded,andevenintoacoupleofmoreEnglishwords.Literally,however,
thewordmeanstowitherortodryup.PerhapsearlierBibletranslatorsdidn’t
feelthatthewordwitherfitwell,sotheychosesomeofthoseotherwordsItold
youabout.Actually,inmyopinion,towitherordryupfitsthescenarioquitewell
askindofapun(betterthanashamedordespair),sinceitisdroughtthathas
causedthefieldsandvinestowiltanddryup(assumingthatthecauseisa
drought,whichIfeelprettyconfidentthatitis).I’llpausetoremindyouthatJoel
isdescribingsomethingthathasalreadyhappened;andratherthanallowingthe
peopletothinkhowunluckyorunfortunatetheyhavebeen,he’sinformingthem
thatGoddidthistothemintentionallyasapunishmentfortheirrebellion(a
rebelliontheydidn’tbelievetheywerecommitting,orthatwhatevertheywere
doingwasn’tTHATbigofasin,orthatbecausetheywereGod’schosenpeople,
HelovedthemtoomuchtoeverexperienceHiswrath).Verse12continueswith
thevineswithering.Again,theHebrewwordusedtomeanwitherordryupis
used(yabesh)anditisusuallytranslatedthatway,soweseetheconnection
withtheopeningwordofverse11thatspeaksofthefarmersandvinedressersas
wilting.It’saplayonwords.
Inverse13,thepriestsandministersoftheTempleareagainaddressed.They
arespecificallyorderedtotakeofftheirpriestlyandministeringgarmentsand
donsackcloth.They,too,aretojoineveryoneelseinmourningandlamenting
becauseoftheirinabilitytodotheirdutiesforthebenefitofthepeople.This
marksanendtotheirprivilegedfellowshipwithYehoveh…atleastforawhile
untilthelandagainproducesthatwhichisneededforthesacrifices.Avery
importantrealizationandGod-principleisbrewing,here:itisthatmerelybeing
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
8/14
sorry,anddoinglamentationrituals,evensincerelyrepenting,isnotwhatis
goingtorekindlefavorwithYehoveh.Whattheymustdependuponishopefor
God’samazinggrace;Hisboundlessmercyuponthemthatisnotearnedor
merited,butratheritisgivenoutofcompassionbaseduponHisdivine
determination.Beforetheycrossedsomecosmicline-in-the-sandof
wickedness…beforeGodsaid“nomore”,muchwasintheirhands.Hadthey
listenedtotheearlierprophetsandrepentedandchangedtheirwrongbehavior,
noneofthiswouldhavehappened.But,nowthatithas,thematterinnolonger
intheirhands.
Nowthepriestsaretoldtoscheduleadayoffastingforthenationsothat
everyone…fromthelowesttothegreatest…willassembleandtogethertake
responsibilityforwhattheyhavedone,andsothatcorporately,asanationof
sinners,theywillcryoutinunitytoGod.Justassackclothisaself-denial,sois
fastingandGodisdemandingself-denialinthissituationnodoubtasashowof
sinceritybutalsoasanafflictionofdiscomfort.Thepriestsaretoldtoarrangefor
thisdayoffastingbecausetheyrepresentthespiritualleadershipofIsrael.Let’s
re-readthisverse.
CJB
Joel1:14Proclaimaholyfast,callforasolemnassembly,gathertheleaders
andallwholiveinthelandtothehouseofADONAIyourGod,andcryoutto
ADONAI,
Now,asitismygoaltoregularlyintroduceyoutobiblicalHebrewwordstohelp
inyourBiblestudy,let’spastebackinsomeoftheoriginalHebrew,andlookat
thatverseagain.
“Kadashafast,callforanatsarah,gathertheleadersandallwholiveintheland
tothehouseofYehovehyourelohim,andcryouttoYehoveh”.Kadashby
definitionmeanstodedicatesomethingholy…notsomethingordinaryor
common.Anatsarahmeansasolemn,sober(theoppositeofajoyful)assembly,
andthehouseofYehovehmeanstheTempleinJerusalem.NoticehowGod’s
nameisonceagainemployed,andthatHeisnotcalled“God”butratheritis
elohim,whichmoremeansdivinebeing.IfinditmostinterestingthatYehoveh’s
nameisusedatall…andinfactitisusedtwice.Whensomethingisusedtwicein
apassageitismeanttodrawourspecialattention.Myspeculationfortheneed
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
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forthisspecialattentionisthat,muchaswashappeningwithJudah’ssister
kingdomofEphraim/Israel,Judah’sreligiouspracticesandtraditionshadalso
becomesufficientlycorruptedwithpaganismandfalsedoctrinesthatitwas
importanttobeclearwhichgodwasdemandingthissolemnassembly,and
whichtempleJudahwastogatherat,andwhichgodtheyweretocryoutto.As
anillustration,ponderforamomentjustwhereweintheWesternworldstand
spirituallyinthe21
st
century.Barelymorethanoneortwogenerationsago,if
ournationalleaderwastocallforasolemnassemblytocryouttoGod,everyone
wouldknowwhatandwhohewasreferringto(evenatheistswouldknow)and
therewouldbeapopularoutpouring.But,today,thementionofanyfaithand
anygodislargelysuspect,andsuchbeliefisregularlyseenasignorantand
primitiveifnotdangeroustothenation.So,anationalleaderwouldprobably
havetospecifywhichgodheorshewastalkingabout.Whichmeansnonational
leader…eveninthefaceoftheworstcrisistheirnationhaseverknown…would
advocateforsuchanassemblybecauseofthesocialandpoliticalsensitivities
involved.Ifearthatmeansthatourpointofnoreturnhaspassedlargely
unnoticed.Ifasinfulandimmoralnationonthedeclinecannotbringitself
togethereveninacatastrophethataffectsall(suchasCovid)inordertobeseech
theGodofHeavenforhelpandmercy,thenYehoveh(whoIfeelquitecertain
sentthisdisasterasajudgmentuponus)hasnogroundsuponwhichtoconsider
showingthatnationmercy.TheBibletellsusplainlythattheLordcanreacha
point(andhasinthepast)inwhichevenrepentancewillnolongerbesufficient
forHimtorelentsincetheoffensesagainstHimhavepiledupsohighandwide
thatjusticedemandstheybedealtwithseverely.IwishIknewforsureifthat’s
whereweare;butallI…oranyofus…havetogoonisthewrittenrecordthatGod
gavetous;andwhatIhavejustsaidtoyouaptlyandhonestlydescribeswhat
thatwrittenrecordtellsusaboutHimandhowHerespondsinsuch
circumstances…eventhoughitmaybeunpleasanttohearit.Israelwouldn’t
believeoracceptthattheirownGodcouldturnfrombenefactortoenemy,butit
happened.Theresultwascatastrophic…yet,completelydeserved.
Verse15isacryofabjectterror!Itisthemomentwhenamostextraordinary
catastrophestrikes.Thelocustattackthen,istheharbinger…thatis,itisasign
ofafutureevent,oraforeshadowofit…thelocustinvasionanditsaftermath
wereaforeshadowofsomethingterrible.Andherewegetthefamous“Dayof
theLord”announcement.Thefirstthingtounderstandaboutthistermisthatin
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
10/14
HebrewitisNOTtheDayoftheLord,itistheDayofYehoveh.Toomuchwe’ve
beenledbyimplicationtomentallypictureitasTheDayofJesus,andthis
happenedbecauseinChristianity“TheLord”ceasedbeingYehovehtheFather,
andtransformedintoJesustheSon.Here,itisexplicitthatitistheDayof
YehovehandthatiswhatitmeanswhereverweencounterintheBible.
Oh,no!Or,Woe!Or,alasfortheday!Allofthesedifferentwaysthisverseis
translatedtoEnglishneedtobetakenliterally:thisisanominous…nota
joyful…day.Itisadayofmourningandgrief…ofpainandtears…notadayof
happyexcitementandthefulfillmentofawonderfulexpectation.Thistermis
found11timesoutsideoftheBookofJoel…andeveryoneofthemconcernsan
oracleofdarknessandoppressionagainstIsrael,butalsoitisusedforthesame
purposeagainstthegentilenationsoftheworld.Letmesaythisagain:TheDay
ofYehovehis,biblically,nothinganyoneoughttowantortolookforwardtoor
praythatitcomes.Whatweoughttoprayforinsteadiswhatwearelookingat
rightnowinJoel:prayformercy!TheDayofYehovehspeaksofnational
judgmentthatofcoursefiltersdowntoindividuals,sinceanationisnothing
morethanalargegroupofindividuals.Iwanttobeclearonsomething:God’s
wrathandjusticegetsadministeredintwodifferentspheres:sphereoneisthe
individual,andspheretwoisthenational(orcorporate).Yeshua,whenHewas
hereforHisfirstvisitation,wasallaboutindividualjusticeandHedidnotconcern
Himselfwithnationalorcorporatejustice.Putanotherway:oursalvation
throughChristisonebyoneandhasnothingtodowithnationaljustice.Infact,
oursalvationismostlyaboutourspiritualconditionandhasmuchlesstodowith
ourphysicalconditionorcurrentcircumstancesashumanbeingslivingonplanet
Earth.Corporatelyornationallyspeaking,ourdeliveranceorourdemise
happensaccordingtothegroup…ornation…webelongto…regardlessofour
individualspiritualstatus…aswewillallsufferthesameexperiencewhetheritis
blessingorcurse.TheDayofYehovehisacorporateexperience…anational
experience…ofacurse,soallwhoarealiveandpresentandpartofthatgroup
willincurthephysical,tangibleeffectsofGod’swrath.Mostcertainlyprayforthe
returnofMessiahYeshua;butplease,neverprayfortheDayofYehovehto
arrive!
InHebrewthoughttheterm“day”(yominHebrew)canmeanseveraldifferent
things.Daycanmeanthattimeofa24-hourcyclewhenthesunisstillup,before
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
11/14
itgetsdark.Oritcanmeanasingle24-hourperiod.Itcanalsomeanan
indefinitetimeperiodbutthattimeperiodconcernsasomewhat
identifiable…evenanamed…event.Itcanevenbenearlyaparalleltermtothe
wordgeneration,dependingonthecontext,asinindicatinganentireera.Here
inJoel,theDayoftheLordmeansanidentifiableeventbutofinindefinitetime
period.TheDayofYehovehisNOTasingle24-hourperiodthatcanbemarkedon
acalendar,like(forinstance)IndependenceDayortheDayofPentecost.The
DayofYehovehiscalledthisnamebecauseitisYehovehwhoiscausingitand
commandingit.AlmostalwaystheDayofYehovehwillemploycompletely
naturalthings(suchasalocustplagueoradroughtorevenanaggressivenation
withanambitiousleadertoattack).WhatqualifiestheseasaDayofYehovehis
NOTthephysicalmeansthatithappens,butratherunderwhosecontrolit
happensatallandforwhatultimatepurpose.Godcontrols,setsitinmotion,and
usesittoachieveacertainultimatepurpose.But,itisallaboutusingHiswrath
asthecatalystforitoccurring.
TherealityinJoel’serawasthatIsraelknewabouttheDayofYehoveh,butwas
mistakenlyconvincedthatitwasreservedonlyforgentilenationsandneverfor
them.AndthisdespitewhattheHolyScripturestaught,andespeciallywhatthe
Prophetswarned.Israel’sconstantfoewasthemselvesandtheirevilinclinations.
Theconstantcrimetheycommittedwasidolatry;butnotidolatryinthesensewe
usuallythinkofit.Yes,attimessomepeopleofIsraelkeptandworshippedidols.
But,thefarlargerissuewasthattheycommittedanationalandindividual
idolatrybyre-makingGodintheirownimage.Theypreferredtosubstitutetheir
doctrines,andtheirdefinitionsofmercy,andlove,andjusticeforGod’s.When
they,andwe,refusetoacceptGodforwhattheBiblesaysHeis,andinhowHe
judgesandoperates,thenwehavecommittedidolatry.InnowaydoImeanthis
allegoricalormetaphorically.Imeanitentirelyliterally,andtheconsequencesof
thisforusasindividualsandnationallyarestaggering.Haveyoudecidedthat
GodisONLYloveandmercy?Thatisidolatry.DoyouthinkthatinGod’s
corporatewrathotherswillbeharmedbutsomehowyouwon’tbecauseyou’rea
BelieverinYeshua?Thatisidolatry.Doyouthinkthatlifesentencesformurder
ismorejustandmoremercifulbecausesinceChrist’sadventHehasbrought
withHimadifferentmindsetofwhatjusticeandmercyis?Thatisidolatry.In
these(andmanymore)assumptionsthatarecommonlymadeaboutGod,which
areclearlycontrarytowhatHisOwnWordsaystous,iswheretheproblemlies.
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
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ItissoverytemptingtoconstructaGodthatpleasesus…averyattractiveGod
thatmakesourliveseasier,andsolvesourproblems,bringsaboutourhopesand
dreams…aGodwhoevolvesandsatisfiesourculturaldemandsandpersonal
desiresandpleasures,andallowsusfreedomtodowhateverwewanttodo
withoutguiltorshame….orconsequence.Thedangeristhatwhenwesuccumb
tothistemptationitmeanswearenotworshippingtheGodoftheBible,but
rathertheGodofourminds.AGodthatdoesn’texist.OTandNT,weconstantly
readaboutsubmittingtoGod.Butwhatdoesthatreallymean?Tosubmitand
surrendertoGodmeansbydefinitiontosubmitandsurrenderourmindsand
thoughtstoHiswaysandcommandsregardlessofhowitmightfeeltousorhow
hangingontoourownpreferencesandchoicesbenefitsusmoreforthepresent.
Yeshuaemphasizedthispointafewtimes,butnoneasdramatic,perhaps,than
thisocassion:
CJB
Luke14:26-33
26
"Ifanyonecomestomeanddoesnothatehisfather,his
mother,hiswife,hischildren,hisbrothersandhissisters,yes,andhisownlife
besides,hecannotbemytalmid.
27
Whoeverdoesnotcarryhisown
execution-stakeandcomeaftermecannotbemytalmid.
28
"Supposeoneofyouwantstobuildatower.Don'tyousitdownandestimate
thecost,toseeifyouhaveenoughcapitaltocompleteit?
29
Ifyoudon't,then
whenyouhavelaidthefoundationbutcan'tfinish,alltheonlookersstartmaking
funofyou
30
andsay,'Thisisthemanwhobegantobuild,butcouldn'tfinish!'
31
"Oragain,supposeonekingisgoingouttowagewarwithanotherking.Doesn't
hefirstsitdownandconsiderwhetherhe,withhistenthousandtroops,has
enoughstrengthtomeettheotherone,whoiscomingagainsthimwithtwenty
thousand?
32
Ifhehasn't,thenwhiletheotherisstillfaraway,hesendsa
delegationtoinquireabouttermsforpeace.
33
"Soeveryoneofyouwhodoesn't
renounceallthathehascannotbemytalmid.
ThispassagehasbeenspunsomanywaysbyvariousPreachersandTeachers
thatIcan’tcountthemall.First,here’swhatitdoesNOTmean:itdoesNOT
meantointenselydislike,ortobemeanorhostiletoyourfamily.Biblically,the
word“hate”isalmostalwaysmeantinapoliticalsense.Tohatemeansthe
oppositeofhavingallegiance.Itmeanstoreject.Ifyouloveyourking,youare
loyaltohimandhisauthority.Ifyouhateyourking,youarenotloyaltohimand
rejecthisauthority.Now;whatitDOESmeanisthis:Yeshuaisspeakingofthe
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
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steepcostofbeingloyaltoHim.Youcannolongerthinklikeyouusedtothink,
tobehavelikeyouusedtobehave,andtoprioritizeyourrelationshipsoryour
valueslikeyouusedtoprioritizethem.Hemustdisplaceallotherformer
allegiancesinyourlifeandhavetopbillingasconcernseverything.Ifanyoneor
anything…includingyourfamily…standsinyourwayofhavingallegiancetoHim,
orobeyingHisFather…wearecommandedtorejectevenourfamilyifnecessary.
Countthecost,Hesays,andconsideritbeforecommittingtoHim.Youcan’t
haveitbothways.ThereisaseverecosttofollowingHim.Itisn’tallabedof
roses.THISisthereality.THISistherealJesus.THISiswhatfollowingHimis
actuallyabout.THISiswhatHedemandsofusasanon-negotiableconditionfor
ourdeliverancefrometernaldeathforoursin.Acompletelyunderstanding,
tolerantYeshuathatacceptsa“goodenough”fidelitytowardsHimandHis
Fatherdoesn’texist;andtopictureHimthiswayisnotjustmisguidedinGod’s
eyes,itisnothinglessthanidolatry.TheseareharshwordsIknow,butthatis
howitiswithGod…andeveryattribute,orperson,orelementofHimisofthe
samecharacter.ThismakessubmissionandsurrendertoHimsoverymuch
harderandmuchmoreseriousthanitappearsonthesurface…orhowitisfartoo
oftenpresentedtotheSeeker.Thisrealityisalsowhysomanyfolkshearof
GodandofYeshua’ssalvation,andrushtothefrontoftheChurchandpraythe
sinners’prayer,onlylatertofallawayandlivealifethatinnowayreflectswho
GodisandwhatHedemandsofus.TheREALGodandtheREALJesushavebeen
sugar-coateduntiltheyarenotrecognizable.BillyGrahamover20yearsago
confessedinarecordedpublicinterviewthatafteryearsoffollow-upstudies,it
wasdiscoveredthatonlyabout1%ofthehundredsofthousandsofpeoplewho
cameforwardovertheyearstoacceptChristathismanycrusadesremainedas
Believers.The99%whoquicklyfellawayactedonemotion,andonincomplete
information,sotheydidn’tcounttheactualcostofbeingafollowerofMessiah
Yeshua;theydidn’tunderstandwhoGodreallyis.Andwhenthecostbegantobe
apparent,andthattheattractivegenie-likeGodtheyboughtintowasn’treally
thatwayatall,theyessentiallyrenouncedwhattheyhadpubliclyprofessed.
Pleasethinkandpraylongandhardonthisandexamineyourselftoseewhere
youmay,ormaynot,fitintoallthatIjustsaid.
TheDayofYehovehreferencesinHolyScriptureareactuallymorethanthe11
outsideofJoelandthe5withinit.Therearesomeothersynonymoustermsand
expressionsusedthatareentirelyparalleltoitandmeanessentiallythesame
Lesson2-JoelChapter1continued
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thing:21ofthemtobesure.Forinstance,inEzekiel30wehearof“TheDayfor
YehovehofHosts”.InIsaiah2itis“TheDayoftumultfortheLordYehovehof
hosts”.InIsaiah22itis“TheDayofthewrathofYehoveh”.InLamentations1it
is“TheDayofYehoveh’svengeance”…andthereareseveralothersofthesame
ilk.So,whenweseethesesortsofphrasesjustunderstandthattheyareall
pointingtothesamething;theyallmeanthesameasTheDayofYehoveh.
AlthoughI’vealreadymentionedit,I’llrepeatthattheDayofYehovehandallof
itsparallelsarederivedfrombiblicalHolyWarconcepts.Themostimportant
HolyWarconcepttograspisthatonlyGodcandeclarewhatisHolyWar.Humans
declaringitbecausewethinkitarighteousendeavordoesnotmakeitholy.It
mightbeamostworthyandnecessarywar…WWIIcomestomind…butthatis
NOTHolyWar.ThesecondmostimportantHolyWarconceptmustbetheLawof
theBan(chereminHebrew).BanisawordthatinHolyWarcontextmeansthe
spoilsofwarthatbelongsolelytoGod.Ingeneral,Banappliestoeverything
takenorcapturedfromtheenemyinaHolyWar….people,animals,material
possessions,preciousmetalandjewels…anythingandeverything.Sinceit
belongstoGod,Hewilldecidewhatistobedonewithitandhowtoreceiveit.
SometimesHewillinstructsomeofittobegiventothePriests,andatother
timestotheindividualsoldiersandleaders,andsometimesnoneistobykeptby
humans.How,then,doesGodreceiveandpossessthatwhichisBan?Itistobe
destroyed…usuallyburnedup.And,thatincludespeople,animals,material
possession,preciousmetalandjewels…anythingandeverything.Thisreality
alsosupportstheunderlyingprinciplewithinthemanyDayofYehovehevents
thatwillinvolvethedeathsoflargenumbersofpeoplethatallhumansbelongto
God.Hehascreatedeachoneofus,andsoourlivesbelongtoHim.InaHolyWar,
thosewhomtheHolyWarisaimedagainstareconsideredasBan.So,whiletheir
deathsareofcoursesadandtobegrievedover,nonethelessGodhaseveryright
tohavehappenwhatHehascommandedinHolyWar,andnoonehastheright
toquestionwhetherthesemanylivesandfortunesthatwerelostwasjustand
fair.SuchmattersareHisandHisalonetodecide.
We’llcontinueinJoelchapter1nexttime.