June 8, Reading 2 – Joel 3

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Judgment and blessing – these are corollaries, not opposites. This chapter is rich in metaphor and memorable picture language. The fountain prophecy comes to its fulfilment with Jesus, the water of life. (John 14:14, Revelation 21:6,22:1,17)

SJA Notes

* Gracious Lord, please open our eyes today to this portion of Your word. Teach us Lord, show us Jesus.

“I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgement with them there, …”

Humanity together cannot all “just be friends”.

Not with each other, and not with God.

God is JUDGE. And He judges SIN.

God’s word tells us that there are two states on the final day of judgement.

You are either found in Christ or you are not. You are either one of His sheep or you are a goat. You are either standing before the judge with Jesus’ righteousness as Yours, or you stand on your own.

As well, in the _now_, we cannot be one world living in harmony. That is folly.

There will always be snakes and wolves who deceive and rend and tear.

The message of God’s word, to us and to the world around us, is that there is hope and life and love ONLY BECAUSE Jesus came and took the punishment for our own sin on Himself.

We all deserve the just punishment for our sin.

The good news is that Jesus makes it possible to escape God’s wrath by believing in Him as King and Saviour.

* Father God,

Please help us as we grapple with the hard truths we read here in the book of Joel.

Thank You that in Jesus we can escape Your just and holy wrath, the penalty for our rebellion, our rejection of You and Your law.

Please protect Your people from the wolves that are amongst us in sheep’s clothing and those before us clear and present in the world.

We trust in You God Almighty, You are our refuge and strength!

Amen.

June 7, Reading 2 – Joel 2

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Chapter 2 is a vivid picture of being in a locust swarm and of its effect on the land. Verses 13,14 call for national heart repentance not national ritual or ceremony. Consider the promise of verse 25. Peter tells us in Acts 2:16-21 that verses 28-32 were fulfilled at Pentecost.

SJA Notes

* Dear Lord, please open our eyes to Your word today. Show us what we need to see.

“For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?”

Here is a clear picture of God’s CREATION VIEW.

Who will survive that final day of judgement?

Joel tells us,

“Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;”

This is a part of our story to tell the nations.

There is a war on. Our King Jesus did not and will not go quietly into the night. There is an end, a judgement, when all mankind will be weighed before the JUST and HOLY God.

And that there is hope! A sure and steady hope.

“Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him,”

God did this!

In Jesus we have BLESSING.

This is our God. He has given Himself for His people so that we can escape His wrath.

* Gracious Father,

Thank You for leaving a blessing behind.

Thank You for Jesus, and thank You for Your Holy Spirit, our helper in this life, our companion along this narrow way.

Thank You that we can call You Father,

Please was us clean this day from the sin like dust that clings to us as we walk this road.

Amen.

June 6, Reading 2 – Joel 1

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Joel: The Lord is God! Joel wrote about 790BC in the Kingdom of Judah, with his contemporary Amos in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The terrible calamity of a locust plague had befallen Palestine. Obadiah sees natural disasters as a potent reminder of sin’s cosmic consequences and hence an occasion for repentance – returning to God.

SJA Notes

* Father God, please open our eyes to the message of Joel today as we read this passage.

“What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten.”

Israel has been decimated, ravaged by destroyers.

And Joel calls out to both the people and to the leaders of the people,

“Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar.”

Joel is calling Israel to repentance.

“Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.”

AND CRY OUT TO THE LORD.

This is a hard word for us today, for the church here and across the world.

Remember the Lord. Remember what He has done. Remember that He saves us. Remember His word, write it on our hearts, never forget!

This is a word for us today.

* O Lord God,

We call and cry out to You.

Please sink us in self and lift You up.

Please lower us and raise Yourself in us.

Please mark us as a humble and contrite people before You, our one and true God.

Please forgive us Lord for our sin.

Amen.