The Prophecy of Joel

I found this a very interesting book. I also found the fact of where it actually is in the Bible very interesting. I mean here we are in Kings for the past week or so and this is many books down the road. Anyway, Joel, the prophet, has some powerful images he draws up as he speaks here reminding us the our relationship with God take priority over everything in our lives. Calling the Israelites to come back to God. He first starts out with he vision of this terrible invasion of locust.

I have to stop here and just make a side note of something I read about this. Did you know that when the locust came and ate they would lay their eggs during their time on the farms. And so when the new growth of vegetation would start to spring up later on down the road it was just in time for the eggs to hatch and the baby locust to come out and eat up everything new growing close to the ground. Uuugghh. How horrible and they did not have pesticides like we do now.

Anyway, back to Joel. This whole text talks about this invasion of this army of locust a which he tells us is a divine invasion. This now leads to him talking not about locusts but an army that will invade the land. He calls upon the priests to repent and fast. Then his whole tone changes a bit. He tells us how God will provide for each persons by pouring his spirit out on the people in response to their cry for salvation and he will judge those who have been oppressing them as well as give them back their wealth once again. As these enemies try to come up against the Jews God will come and take over the fight and win and judge those pagan nations.

This was really I think very beautifully written. I actually read it twice not because I did not understand it but I just thought the way he wrote it was really a beautifully drawn out picture of repentance and revival. He basically saying it is never to late to turn back to God if we just repent from the heart. We should always be looking at what Gods purpose is for us and if we do these two things His spirit will be poured out on us. I also like that he threw in there that the daughter as well as their sons were intended to prophesy. That was a nice bonus for us woman. Great book to remind us to repent and turn back.