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THEBOOKOFJOEL
Lesson4,Chapter2
Whodoesn’twanttoknowthefuture?Especiallyinthisthe21
st
century,even
totallysecularfolkshaveasenseofforebodingthatsomethingearthshakingand
calamitousiscominguponourentireplanet.Thelatestbeliefofwhatthis
foreboding“something”is,iswrappedupintheclimatechangefrenzythatso
manymillions(ifnotbillions)believeisleadingrapidlytotheextinctionofhuman
lifeonearth.MostoftheJudeo-Christianworldhasthissamesense,butviews
theoutcomeverydifferently.Therefore,lately,theBookofRevelationisbeing
taughtmorethanI’veeverknownittobetaughtinChurches;butthissame
senseofforebodinghascausedmetowanttodelvedeeperintothevarious
booksofOldTestamentprophecyabouttheEndTimes,whichareessentiallythe
sourcedocumentsforJohn’sBookofRevelation.Noonebookofprophecy…
includingRevelation…givesusallthedefinitiveanswersweseekaboutthe
future;eachisbutapieceofacomplexandmulti-facetedpuzzle…theBookof
Joelisalsobutoneofthosepuzzlepieces.Wemustbecautiousinourapproach
toprophecybecauseitseemsthatatvarioustimesinhistory,certainprophetic
booksbecamealltherageandwhattheyhadtosaybecameover-weightedand
thusweretakenoutofcontextfromthelargerpicture.Thatis,thefeelingwas
thatoneparticularbookcouldbeconsultedthatwasthemostrelevanttowhat
washappening,andthereforewastheonlyplaceoneneedgotofindtheanswers
towhatwascoming.Forsometimeinthemodernera,forChristiansthatbook
hasbeentheBookofRevelation.MorerecentlywecanaddtothattheBookof
Joel.MyconcernisthatjustastheJewsinYeshua’sdayover-weightedwhatthe
BookofDanielhadtosayandsoitledthebulkofJewishsocietytomisinterpret
thecomingoftheirMessiah,sotodaywetendtoover-weightRevelationandJoel.
ThesebooksmustNOTbeinterpretedinisolationorwe’llhavesomevery
incorrectexpectationsthatresultinsomerigiddoctrinesthataremost
dubious…asIthinkisprevalentamongChrist-Believersandthevarious
denominationsrightnow.
TherealityisthatevenwhenweputalloftheseveralProphets’wordsaboutthe
EndTimestogether,greatmysteriesremain.So,wemustnotonlyhavethe
patiencetotakethetimeandputintheefforttolearnanddigestwhatGod’s
Wordtellsusaboutit,butalsowemustmaintainthefaiththateventhoughwe

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haveonlybeengiventheinformationtoseethefuturebutdimly,thereismore
thanenoughrevealedtoustodiscernthehighwaythatgetsusthere,someof
themilestonesthatmarktheway,andthecertaintyofthefinaldestination.One
ofthemorecertainelementsofthatfinaldestinationisthereturnofOurLord
Yeshuatoearthtoridtheworldofthewickedpowers,tokickSatanoutasthe
rulingpoweroftheworld,andtoestablishTheFather’skingdom,in
righteousness,toitsfullest.Buteventhisoutcome,ofitself,iscomposedofa
seriesoforganicallyconnectedeventsasopposedtoasinglegrandspectacle.
OneofthoseeventsthatiscentraltoJoel’smessageisTheDayoftheLord(or
moreliterally,theDayofYehoveh),andperhapsthemostimportantthingwe
cantakefromwhatJoeltellsusisthatthereis(was)morethanone.Thisisa
crucialandfoundationalprincipleaboutEndTimesprophecythatwemusthave
attheforefrontofourminds,andthroughwhichwesiftallthethingswelearn
aboutit.
IntheopeningchapterandahalfoftheBookofJoelthatextendsthrough
chapter2verse17,welearnaboutaDayofYehoveheventwhenIsrael…ormore
accurately,Judah…getsinvadedandovercomebyanarmy.Theremaining
passagesofJoelareaboutafutureDayofYehovehthattakesplaceinwhatis
mostpopularlyknownastheEndTimes.However,thenatureofthisattackis
entirelydifferentthanalltheearlierones.ThisoneisnotaimedatIsraelbut
ratheragainstallthewickednationsandpowersoftheworld.Inthisattackthose
wickednationsandpowerswillbedefeatedandreplacedwiththerighteousness
ofGod.
InJoelchapter2verse11makesatleastpartiallyknowntheidentityandthe
intentoftheenemyforcesthatcomeagainstIsrael(sothisiscertainlynot
speakingoftheEndTimes)andthiseventislikenedtoanearlierinvasionof
locusts.Theverse11eventspeaksofaforeignarmywhoseleader,ironically
enough,isIsrael’sownGod:Yehoveh.Thisenemyarmyisdoingthebiddingof
Israel’sGod(eventhoughtheydon’trealizeit)asthemeansforYehovehto
punishIsraelfortheirlong-termrebellionagainstHim.Evenso,theexact
nationthisarmyisfromisnotnamed.
StillstingingfromthedevastatingeffectsofthelocustinvasionthatJoelopened
hisbookspeakingabout,JudahnowhearsthatthedreadedDayofYehoveh(The

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DayoftheLord)isimminent.And,itistheythatshallsufferit.Theresultof
God’swrathuponJudahissounimaginableinitsscaleandintensitythatthe
rhetoricalquestionisasked:“whocanendureit?”Inthepropheticaccounts
suchasthisoneinJoel,andespeciallyinthehindsightofrecordedhistory,the
questionasalwaysiswhichoftheattacksuponJudah(andIsrael)isthis
speakingabout….ifany?And,ifitisn’tspeakingaboutanyofthosethatweknow
about,thenwhateventinhistory…orinthefuture…mightthisbepointingto?
I’vespokentoyouinearlierJoellessonsthatwhenwereadtheseProphetslike
Joelitcanbehardtountanglewhicheventsinwhichperiodofhistoryarebeing
referenced.Andthisisbecausebiblicalprophecyis(oftenasnot)envisioning
morethanaone-and-donefulfillmentevent.Rather,itcanbe…andoftenis…
envisioningmultiplefulfillmentsofthesameprophecytakingplaceatdifferent
timesinhistoryunderdifferingcircumstances.And,yet,thesemultiple
fulfillmenteventsaresointerwoveninthepropheticnarrativethanonlyin
hindsightandonlywithsufficientknowledgeofthehistoryofIsraelcanwegeta
betterideaofwhichfulfillmentevent(orseriesoffulfillments)isbeingspoken
about.NopassageisbetteratdemonstratingthisconundrumthanJoelverses10
and11.So,let’sre-readaportionofJoelchapter2tosetthestagefortoday’s
lesson.
RE-READJOELCHAPTER2:10–end
Thereisnodoubtthatatleastpartofthefulfillmenteventsdepictedinthese2
versesCANNOTbemerelyahuman-ledinvasionofJudahandJerusalemwithall
itsusualandcustomarycatastrophicoutcomes.Rather,welearnthatthe
heavenlycosmosisgoingtobedisruptedaswell;somethingwhichnohuman
invasioncancause.So,whateverisbeingpicturedisinfinitelymoreimpactful
andfarmoreexpansiveinglobalscalethanwhathappensonlyinJudahand
Jerusalem.Eventslikethosedescribedarenotgeographicallyconfinedbecause
eventsthatconcernthesunandthemoonareseenandexperiencedeverywhere
onourplanetandnotinisolation.Becausethispropheticthemeisnotlimited
justtoJoel,let’slookatonethatisn’tsooftenassociatedwiththeDayof
Yehoveh,butitmostcertainlydoesspeaktoit:theBookofMalachai.

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CJB
Malachi3:1-6"Look!Iamsendingmymessengertoclearthewaybeforeme;
andtheLord,whomyouseek,willsuddenlycometohistemple.Yes,the
messengerofthecovenant,inwhomyoutakesuchdelight-look!Herehe
comes,"saysADONAI-Tzva'ot.
2
Butwhocanendurethedaywhenhecomes?
Whocanstandwhenheappears?Forhewillbelikearefiner'sfire,likethe
soapmaker'slye.
3
Hewillsit,testingandpurifyingthesilver;hewillpurifythe
sonsofLevi,refiningthemlikegoldandsilver,sothattheycanbringofferingsto
ADONAIuprightly.
4
ThentheofferingofY'hudahandYerushalayimwillbe
pleasingtoADONAI,asitwasinthedaysofold,asinyearsgoneby.
5
"ThenI
willapproachyouforjudgment;andIwillbequicktowitnessagainstsorcerers,
adulterersandperjurers;againstthosewhotakeadvantageofwage-earners,
widowsandorphans;againstthosewhorobtheforeignerofhisrightsanddon't
fearme,"saysADONAI-Tzva'ot.
6
"ButbecauseI,ADONAI,donotchange,you
sonsofYa'akovwillnotbedestroyed.
MalachaipresentsanothergoodexampleinwhichtheDayofYehovehisinsight,
butyetsomeothereventsareaswell,andtheyallseemtobethrownintogether
liketheingredientsofastewpot.
Thedaywhichnoone“canendure”thatisspokenofhereinMalachairelates
directlytoJoel’sdaythatnoone“canendure”.Evenso,clearlythefirstwordsof
Malachai’smessagehavetodowithsomethingthatoccursearlier:thearrivalof
JohntheBaptistandthenMessiahYeshua("Look!Iamsendingmymessenger
toclearthewaybeforeme;andtheLord,whomyouseek,willsuddenlycometo
histemple.).SomethingthatnooneinJoel’sdaycouldhaveseencoming,but
inhindsightitbecomesclear.Justasclearly,becauseYeshuarepresented
salvationandnotjudgment(Hedidnotcometocondemnorpunish),and
thereforecertainlynotastherefineroftheLevites(thePriesthood).Further,
sinceMalachailivedandwrotewellafterthetimeoftheAssyrianattackandexile
ofIsrael,andthenlaterstillaftertheBabylonianattackandexileofJudah(and
evenafterJudah’sreturn),thenneitheroftheseenormouseventscanbeany
partoftheeventshe’sdescribing.Evenmore,whateverandwhomeverthis
judgmentincludes,itdoesNOTincludeJacob(meaningIsrael)beingdestroyed.
Confusing?ItcertainlyhadtohavebeenfortheIsraeliteswhofirstreadand
heardMalachai’sprophecy,butitoughttobelesssoforus.

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Duetothepassingofhistory,morecanbeintelligibletousinthe21
st
century
thanitwasforancientIsraelbecausebyprocessofeliminationwecanatleast
knowwhatthisprophecyisNOTtalkingabout.Itcannotbetalkingaboutthe
AssyrianexileoftheNorthernKingdomofEphraim/IsraelortheBabylonianexile
oftheSouthernKingdomofJudah.Thisalsomustnecessarilybetalkingaboutan
eventthatcomesAFTERthetimethatYeshuawalkedtheearthbecausethe
predictedoutcomedidn’thappen.TheLeviteswerenotpurifiedduringYeshua’s
dayandinfactwithin40yearsafterHisdeath,Judah’sandthePriesthood’s
continuingcorruptionledtoaJewishrevoltagainsttheirRomanoccupiers,with
theresultthatRomedestroyedtheTemplein70A.D.,banishedthepriesthood
outofexistence,andeffectivelyaltogetheremptiedJerusalemofJews.Afterthat,
nothingofanypropheticsignificanceorfulfillmenthappeneduntilIsraelwas
re-bornasanationofJewsin1948.So,byasimpleprocessofeliminationofthe
possibilities,thejudgmentthatMalachaiisspeakingaboutisonethathasyetto
happen.WecanusethatsamemethodtohelpustobetterdiscernJoel.
Now,Itellyouthisbecauseeventhoughwedon’thavealltheanswerstothe
manyandvariousasyetunfulfilledbiblicalpropheciesoftheEndTimes,
nonethelesswecaneliminatecertaineventsofthepastconcerningIsraelas
beingthesingle,mostdreadedofalltheseveralDaysofYehovehthatJoel,
Malachai,Isaiahandotherstellsusabout;adaythateveninvolvesgreatcosmic
events.And,equallyimportant,isthatwealsolearnisthatwhilealltheprevious
DayofYehoveheventswerejudgmentsagainstJudahorIsraelorboth,the
futureone…whatwecouldlooselycallTheEndTimesone…isactuallya
judgmentagainstthenations(eventhoughIsraelwillcertainlyfeelsomeofthe
effectsduetotheglobalnatureofthefulfillment).Thatis,itisareversalofall
theearlierbiblicallyrelatedDaysofYehoveh.Keepthisfirmlyinyourmindaswe
continueinourstudyofwhatJoelhastosay.
Chapter2verse12beginswithacallforrepentance.“Return”,suvinHebrew,is
awordnearlyalwaystranslatedto“repent”inEnglishandIthinkbecausethe
way“repent”hasbeenre-definedbytheConstantinianChristianChurchtobe
mostlyachangeofheartwithoutthenecessityofanaccompanyingchangeof
behavior,thenitisbetterthateverywhereweseetheword“repent”inourBibles
wescratchitoutandwriteintheword“turn”or“return”.Thisisbecauseturnand
returnarewordsaboutactivelydoingsomethingasopposedtorepent,which

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hasbecomeawordofsomethingthathappensonlyinternally,passively,inour
minds,eventothepointthat(doctrinallyspeaking)doingsomethingactively
(changingourphysicalworksfrombadtogood)toproveourrepentanceis
actuallyawrongorsinfulresponse.
Evenso,nomatterhowwemightviewit,simplythewayallhumansworkisthat
everychangeofbehaviornecessarilybeginswithachangeofheart(achangeof
mind).Thereisnothingmysteriousaboutthat.Evenifthatchangeisabad
change…thatiswedeterminetostealortomurder…thatfirstbeginswithinour
minds,becauseourmindscontroltheactionsofourbodiesandouroutward
behavior,andnottheotherwayaround.And,Godsaysthatthefirstnecessary
outwardsignsofreturning(repenting)arefasting,weeping,and
mourning….activethings,physicalthings.Fastingandmourningareactionsof
self-denial.Weepingisavisiblesigntoothersofyourgriefandsorrow.Evenso,
theLordsaystotearone’sheart(mind)andnotyourgarments.Thatis,itwas
thestandardIsraeliteculturaltraditionofmourningandsorrowtoliterallytear
theclothofone’sgarment.Asweallprobablyrealize,suchculturalbehaviorscan
becomesoautomaticandmindlessthatwhatitismeanttoindicateatamuch
deeperlevelbecomeslostonmerelythemechanicalactofdoingofit.
IthasalwaysfascinatedmeinmyvisitstoIsraeltowitnesssecularJewswho
don’tevenbelieveinGod,celebratetheSabbathandthebiblicalfeastsusing
manyofthesamereligiousritualsasthereligiouslyobservantJewsdo.It’sno
differentforthemthanagnosticsparticipatinginChristmascelebrationsbecause,
intheend,whatthey’redoingisnotanactstemmingfromanykindofreligious
conviction,it’sjustsomethingpeopleofourculturedo.InancientIsraelmany
thingsliketearingone’sgarmentanddonningsackclothwerecustomarywhen
mourningadeathwithoutanythoughtaboutthesourceormeaningbehind.
Theyhadjustbecomemindlessrobotichabitsasopposedtoactuallyobeying
Godinthespirittheseactionswereintended.Therefore,Godsaysthatrather
thanJudeansfocusingontearingthefabricoftheirgarmentstheyshouldtear
thefabricoftheirhearts(theirminds).ThisdidNOTmeantoavoidtearingone’s
clothing;itwassaidinordertohighlightthattoGod,onewhotearstheirclothing
butisnotsincerelyacknowledgingtheirneedandintenttochangetheirlivesby
goingbacktoGod’sways(therebyabandoningtheircurrentwrongways)is
achievingnothing….Heisnotimpressed.ListentothewordsofthisPsalm:

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CJB
Psalm51:16-21
16
Rescuemefromtheguiltofsheddingblood,God,Godof
mysalvation!Thenmytonguewillsingaboutyourrighteousness-
17
Adonai,
openmylips;thenmymouthwillpraiseyou.
18
Foryoudon'twantsacrifices,or
Iwouldgivethem;youdon'ttakepleasureinburntofferings.
19
Mysacrificeto
Godisabrokenspirit;God,youwon'tspurnabroken,chastenedheart.
20
In
yourgoodpleasure,makeTziyonprosper;rebuildthewallsofYerushalayim.
21
Thenyouwilldelightinrighteoussacrifices,inburntofferingsandwholeburnt
offerings;thentheywillofferbullsonyouraltar.
Thesameideaofthecalltorepent(toturn)outofsincerityandnotoutof
mechanicalorritualisticcustomsappearsinPsalm51.AlthoughIwanttobe
clearthatwhenwereadthatGodsaysthatHedoesn’twantsacrificesandrather
whatHewantsisabrokenspirit,thisisnowayissayingthatGodisabolishing
thesacrificialsystem.Rather,thisisapolemicagainstmindless(or
wrong-minded)ritualcustomsofsacrificinganimalsthatdoesn’treflectany
changeofmindorbehavior.Itisjustgoingthroughthemotionsbecause…well,
that’swhatyouaresupposedtodobecauseeverybodyelsedoes,too.
Verse13goesontosaythatachangeofbehaviorstemmingfromachangeof
mindisevensomethingthatYehovehdoes,soJudahcertainlyshouldn’tbeshy
aboutdoingthesamethemselves.Thatis,whentheendofverse13saysthat
GodsuffersHimselftorepentoftheevil,itmeansforGodtoactivelychangeHis
mindandtorelentfromcausingthedestruction(theevil)Hefullyintendedto
visituponJudah.So,inlikekindGodisseekingatotalre-orientationofmindand
behaviorfromtheJudeans…fromeviltorighteous…towardsHim.Themourning
andlamentationritualsareeasytodo;smallchildrencoulddothem.Buta
deep-rootedremorsefulnessonaccountofrecognizingthewrongnessofone’s
sinistherequirementifonecanhaveanyhopeofhavingtheirsinsforgiven.
Evenso,thismustbedonewiththeunderstandingthatsuchremorseisno
assuranceofforgiveness.Godwilldetermineonacase-by-casebasisIFHeis
goingtoshowmercy.And,therealityisthatturningfromourevilwaystoGod’s
waysismuch,muchharderthanperformingsimpleritualsorofferingupprayers
andpromisesinthemomentofdespair.And,nowI’mspeakingtoallofusand
especiallytoourChristianfriendswhohaveyettodiscovertheenduring
relevanceandauthorityoftheentireBible,andnotjusttheNewTestament:

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turningfromlongheldandcomfortabledoctrinesandtraditionsthatinrealityare
biblicallywrong,andadoptinginsteadthebiblicalwaysandinstructionsthatare
right,isalsomuch,muchhardertodothanmerelyrecognizingthatourcurrent
waysareperhapswrongand/ortalkingaboutitinprivate.Forinstance,letting
goofmanmadeEasterandChristmasobservances,anddoctrinesofanabolished
SabbathoraSundaySabbathismuchhardertodobecauseyouknowyouwillfor
surelosefriends.YoucancountonbeingridiculedandcalledaJudaizer,ora
heretic,orbeingtoldyou’regoingbackundertheLaw,anddenouncedbythe
majority.AleksanderSolzhenitsynoncefamouslysaid:“Thesimplestepofa
courageousindividualisnottotakepartinalie”.Forallthesamereasonsthat
manyofuswereslowtoseparateourselvesfromourdenominationaldoctrines
andtocomebacktoGod’sways,manyarereluctantnow.Ittakescourageand
countingthecosttomakesuchaboldmovefromwrong-mindedbut
well-acceptedtraditionstothebiblicalcommands.Don’teverthinkitwasany
differentforthoseancientIsraelitesthatGod,throughHisProphets,were
admonishingandencouragingtoleavebehindthosefalsetraditionsand
manmadedoctrinesandtoinsteadreturntoHim.Therewouldbeasteepsocial
ifnoteconomiccosttodoit,anddoingitpassivelywithoutanyoutwardchange
(thatofcoursewouldbeimmediatelydrawattentiontooneself)wasforGodno
repentance(noturning)atall.
Verse14beginswithathoughtthatwe’veaddressedbefore,butnonethelesscan
bealittledifficulttoface.Thethoughtis“whoknows?”Thatis,ifonetruly
returnstoGodandtheiryearsofbadbehaviorchanges,PERHAPSGodwillrelent
andnotcarryoutHisthreat.Nothingisguaranteed.Godalwayshasthefreedom
tomakedeterminationsandchoose.ItmustbethatJoelsaysthisbecause
Judah’sself-assuredifnotcockyattitudewasthat1)Godwouldneverdoharm
againstHisownpeopleregardlessoftheirbadbehavior,and2)God’sfavorto
themwasalwaysunconditional.Thetruthisthatwhenwepray,wemustalways
enterintoitwiththe“whoknows?”kindofmindset.Noneofwhatweaskfor
fromYehovehisassureddespiteabeliefamongmanythatYeshuahaschanged
this.Thereisanoften-quotedNewTestamentversethatisusedtosay
essentiallythatif2or3Believersaskforsomething,thenGodisobligatedto
oblige.

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CJB
Matthew18:19-20
19
Torepeat,Itellyouthatiftwoofyouhereonearth
agreeaboutanythingpeopleask,itwillbeforthemfrommyFatherinheaven.
20
Forwherevertwoorthreeareassembledinmyname,Iamtherewiththem."
So,didJesusbecomethegenieinthebottlethatifthesecretwordsaresaid,the
geniehasnochoicebuttograntthatluckypersontheirwish?DidYeshua
overturnthenotionofGodalwayshavingthefullfreedomtodecideonwhatHe
does,andratherthatif2or3askinagreementthatGodhasnochoicebutto
comply?Insomecircles,avariationofthisconceptiscalled“nameit,claimit”.
Forinstance,if2or3prayandclaimthatsoandsoistobehealedoftheir
infirmity,thenisitguaranteedthatGodwillseetoit.Yeshuadidnotsaythisor
meanitthisway.Infact,thisusuallyquotedverseastheanswertothequestion
ofconditionalityandaniron-cladpromisefromGoddoesn’tevenapplytoprayer
orbeseechingGodtodothewillofwhatthe2or3haveagreedupon.Rather,this
isabouttheleadershipoftheBelievingcommunitymakingdecisionsabout
doctrinalinterpretationsandgoverningthecommunityorcongregation.And,it
isthatshouldtheleadershipagreeonadecision,thenGod(andbyassociation,
Yeshua)standsbehindthem.Yet,theonlywaywecanknowthatthisisthe
meaningofthispassageinMatthewisifwefirstlearntheTorahandtheProphets
sothatwecanhavethepropercontextforinterpretation.
Thehopeexpressedinverse14isdirectlythatsincethelocustinvasionandthe
droughthavedecimatedJudah’sfoodsupply,therebyithasalsodisruptedthe
abilityfortheJudeanstobringsacrificestoGodsothatthepenitentperson
mightreceiveforgivenessofsins.Thehopeisthatperhapsthepeoplerepenting
willcauseGodtorespondbyrestoringfertilitytothelandsuchthatthesacrifices
canberesumed,andthepeoplecanhavetheirguiltremoved.Theimportant
thingthatwemustnotlosesightof…despitethewishfulthinkingofthisnotbeing
so…isthatYehovehGod’scompassionandmercycanbehopedfor,andpledfor,
butpeoplecannotcommanditortakeforgrantedthatitwillbegiven.Noone
canforcetheLordtomakeanyparticulardecision.
CJB
Zephaniah2:1-3Gathertogether,gatheryourselves,nationdevoidof
shame;
2
beforethedecreetakeseffect,andthedaycomeswhenonepasseslike
chaff;beforeADONAI'sfierceangercomesonyou,beforethedayofADONAI's
angercomesonyou.
3
SeekADONAI,allyouhumbleintheland,youwho

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exercisehisjustice;seekrighteousness,seekhumility-youmightbehiddenon
thedayofADONAI'sanger.
Verse15inJoelchapter2isvirtuallyarepeatofthecommandthatopensverse
1.“Callaholymeetingofthewholecongregation”istheintent.Tomakethis
point,inverse16thepeoplearedefinedastheoldmen(probablymeaningthe
Elders),thechildrenandeventheinfants.NooneinJudah’ssocietyisexempt.
EvenBrideandBridegroomaretopausetheconsummationoftheirmarriageand
attend.Todemandinfantstofast,andnewlywedstobreak-offthemarriage
procedureistodotheunthinkable;yet,itisdemandedinordertopointoutthe
unparalleleddangerJudahfindsitselfin.
Verse17speaksdirectlytothePriests.Theyaretostandattheirassigned
stationsattheTempleandbeinintercessionforthepeople,whichiswhatthey
aretodowhenthey’redoingtheirjobsproperly.Betweenthevestibuleandthe
altarmeansbetweentheentryintothefrontchamberoftheSanctuaryandthe
AltarthatisplacedatthefrontoftheTemple.Theyaretoldtopleadforthe
peopleofJudah,withtears,thatGodwouldnotgiveuponHispeople,norallow
gentilenationstoovercomethembecausethenationsmightthinkthat
YehovehisunabletoprotectHispeoplefrominvasion.Thequestioncoming
fromtheunnamedinvader“whereistheirGod?”.ThisisasneerthatYehovehis
notaspotentastheirowngods,andthatthecovenantrelationshipbetween
IsraelandtheirGodisimpotentorithascometoanend.
Tosumupthefirst17versesofJoelchapter2,wecansaythatthetoneisofa
direemergencythatsurpasseseventhatofthelocustattackofchapter1.The
threatisacomingDayofYehoveh.Thatis,ofacomingdirectattackofGod’s
wrathuponIsrael.Therefore,Israelhastodomuchmorethanoutwardly
expresslamentationritualsandsorrowiftheyhopethatYehovehwillstaveoff
thisattack.Rather,theremustcompletelyandwithoutreservationachangein
theirbehavior,whichbeginswithacompletechangeofmind,andthisbymeans
ofacompletereturntothewaysofYehoveh.ReturningtoGod,ortothewaysof
Yehovehalwaysmeansonlyonething:returningtotheTorahandtheLawof
Moses,whichisthewrittenexpressionofGod’swillandways.

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ElShaddai,theGodoftheMountain,theGodwhoappearedindarkclouds,
thunder,andwithaterrifyingvoiceasaloudtrumpetatMt.Sinai,iscoming.But
itisNOTtodefendJudah,itistodecimatethem.Whohasn’tseenanillustration
ofChrist,ridingonawhitehorseatthefrontofanumberlessarmyofSaints,
double-edgedswordinhand,returningtopunishthenationswithHisFather’s
vengeance?ThisiswhatJudahexpectedofGodasrelatestoJudah’senemies;
whattheydidn’texpectwasthatthey(Judah,God’schosenpeople)wouldbethe
targetofGod’sanger.
AllBelieversofeveryilk,nomatterwhatyoumaycallyourself;Christian,
Messianic,HebrewRoots,orbysomedenominationalnameorbranch…please
payattention.ThismessageoftheDayofYehovehisforapeoplewhoarecertain
thattheyarethepeopleofGod.And,assuch,usuallyseethemselvesasmostly
immunefromtheeffectsoftheDayofYehovehand/ortheominousevents
leadinguptoit.But,becauseofbelievinganddefendingmanmadedoctrinesand
traditionsthatactuallyoverrideandreplaceGod’sHolyScriptures,theyhave
placedthemselvesoutsideofGod’sprotectionandblessing.It’sthesameexact
patternanddelusionasIsraelandJudahoperatedunder;adelusionthatweread
theProphetswarningthemabout.Andwhileonanindividual-by-individuallevel
deliveranceinthesenseofdyinginastateofrighteousnessremainspossible,
nationallyspeakingeachindividualisbutamemberofalargercorporatebody.
ThisjudgmentoftheDayofYehovehisthejudgmentofthecorporatebody,and
nottheindividual;thedestructionmakesnodistinctionbetweenthegoodand
theevil,thewickedandtherighteous;allwillsuffer.
CJB
Revelation3:5Hewhowinsthevictorywill,likethem,bedressedinwhite
clothing;andIwillnotblothisnameoutoftheBookofLife;infact,Iwill
acknowledgehimindividuallybeforemyFatherandbeforehisangels.
Thus,one’sonlyhopeisnotsomuchtoescapewhatiscoming,butratheritisto
appealtoGod’smercyandcompassiontohelpthemTHROUGHthisdreadfultime.
Despitewhatyoumayhavebeentold,you,me,allofusaregoingtosufferwhen
God’sjudgmentofthenationshappensbecauseweareallmembersofthose
nations.Allsignspointtowardushavingenteredthattime.Therefore,the
inherentmessageoftheseversesis:prepare!Andpreparedoesn’tjustmean
adoptingapassivementalorspiritualpreparation;itmeanspracticallife

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preparationtohelpeasethesufferingsanddeprivationsthatyouandyourfamily
willsurelyhavetoendure.
Verse18changescourseandnowoffersahopeofrestorationforIsrael.Starting
hereinJoelthereismuchprophecythatpromisesanewandhigherleveloflife
forthepeopleofJudahand,Ithink,allofIsrael.Iwanttoexplainthisnuance
aboutthetermsJudahandallIsrael.WhileJoel’sprophecyisprimarilyaimedat
theKingdomofJudah,nodoubtthelaterdevelopmentsthathappenwhenGod’s
peoplereturntotheHolyLandalmost19centuriesaftertheTemplewas
destroyedbytheRomans,andthemodernnationofIsraelwasrebornin1948,
arealsoinview…veryhazily.JustasoriginallyunderDavidandSolomonIsrael
wasaunifiedKingdomofallthetribes,butthenwasdividedthroughcivilwar
into2separatekingdoms,sotodayIsraelisbackasamostlyunifiednation,but
withonlysomeofthe12tribeshavingreturned;allIsraelhasnotyetcome
home…it’salongprocess.So,inthebiblicalprophecieseventhoughJerusalem
waslongagolocatedintheKingdomofJudah,andthenduetotheRoman
occupationJudahwasrenamedJudea,todaythatsameplaceisagaincalled
Israel,andsoitshallremainnevertobedividedupagain,nomatterhowhard
theworld’snationsattempttodosointhenameofpeaceandfairnesstothe
Palestinians.
Thefirstwordofverse18,whichis“then”,meanssomethingthathappensafter
whathascomebeforethisverse.Itisphrasedinawaythatseemstosaythatin
answertotheleadingoftheprayersbythepriests,whatwenowreadisGod’s
response.
WhenwereadthewordsthatYehoveh“becamejealousforHisland”,thishasthe
meaningofazealousintercessionbyGodforthesakeofHispeopleandtheir
relationshipwiththeHolyLand.Itseemsthatbecauseofthepeoples’newfound
orientationtowardsadeterminationtoobeyGodandtofollowHis
commandments(inherentlymeaningtheletting-goofpaganizedworship
practicesandmanmadetraditionformerlyheldupastruth),God’szealhasbeen
re-directedfromwrathuponJudahtowrathuponthenations.But,eventhen,we
havetobecognizantthatthefulfillmentoftheseprophecieswillhappenina
nearertermaswellasatalaterterm,withdifferentpurposesandresultsinmind.

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NotuntilthelaterfulfillmentintheEndTimeswillGod’swrathshiftfromIsraelto
thenations.
So,fromhereforwardJoel’sbookisaboutbenefitsforthepeopleof
Israel…restorationofblessings.Andtruly,remarkably,evenintheTorahwefind
aprophecyaboutthistimewhenIsraelissentintoexile,whatGod’sattitudeis
aboutHispeople,andwhatHewilldooutofcompassionforthem.
CJB
Leviticus26:40-45
40
Thentheywillconfesstheirmisdeedsandthoseoftheir
ancestorswhichtheycommittedagainstmeintheirrebellion;theywilladmit
thattheywentagainstme.
41
AtthattimeIwillbegoingagainstthem,bringing
themintothelandsoftheirenemies.Butiftheiruncircumcisedheartswillgrow
humble,andtheyarepaidthepunishmentfortheirmisdeeds;
42
thenIwill
remembermycovenantwithYa'akov,alsomycovenantwithYitz'chakandmy
covenantwithAvraham;andIwillremembertheland.
43
Forthelandwilllie
abandonedwithoutthem,anditwillbepaiditsShabbatswhileitliesdesolate
withoutthem;andtheywillbepaidthepunishmentfortheirmisdeeds,because
theyrejectedmyrulingsandloathedmyregulations.
44
Yet,inspiteofallthat,I
willnotrejectthemwhentheyareinthelandsoftheirenemies,norwillIloathe
themtothepointofutterlydestroyingthemandthusbreakmycovenantwith
them,becauseIamADONAItheirGod.
45
Rather,fortheirsakes,Iwill
rememberthecovenantoftheirancestorswhomIbroughtoutofthelandof
Egypt-withthenationswatching-sothatImightbetheirGod;IamADONAI.'"
Onceagainweareremindedthateveninexile,IsraelremainsGod’scovenant
people.ThispromiseofacontinuingrelationshipandcareforIsraelwasmade
longbeforeIsrael’srebellioninthewilderness,ontheirwayfromEgyptto
Canaan.OneofthingsweneedtonoticefrombothJoelandLeviticusishowGod
regardsthelandofIsrael(Hisjealousytowardsit)asmuchasthepeopleof
Israel.TherearesomanyBelievers,today,whoprofessasincereloveand
concernforthepeopleofIsrael,butatthesametimepressIsraeltogiveup
muchofthelandthatGodgavetothemtothePalestiniansinthenameof
“peace”and“fairness”,withtheideaofapoliticaltwo-statesolutionastheideal
solution.ThisisamisguidedmindsetbecauseGodorganicallyconnectsHisland
withHispeople.Theygotogetherasaninseparableset,andnotastwodifferent

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considerations.Thechosenpeoplesufferwhentheyarenotintheland,andthe
landsufferswhenthechosenpeoplearen’ttheretotendit.
We’llcontinuewiththe2
nd
halfofJoelchapter2nexttime.