Joel 1 - 3.3.26

SCRIPTURE:  Joel 1:14

“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.  Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.”

OBSERVATION:  In the year 835 B.C, Joel became a prophet.  God used him to prophesy to the nation of Judah, which was the Southern kingdom that consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. They were 2 out of the 12 tribes who stayed loyal to David’s line after King Solomon’s death. In time, after becoming prosperous, the tribe of Judah grew complacent towards God, which led to them turning to idol worship and sinful lifestyles.  Joel called them to awaken from their complacency. He prophesied that a plague of devastating locusts, like an invading army, would be coming to devour everything in their path if they didn’t acknowledge their sins, and turn from them. 

APPLICATION:  God has been known to send plagues, famines, and enemy armies for the purpose of calling people back to Him.  He is much more interested in the redeemed lives of those who will live in eternity with Him than the temporary events that it often takes to bring about redemption. 

The plague of locusts He sent was used to discipline them, call them to repentance and turn them back to Him. 

God, in His love, has been known to cause the wayward to hunger in order to show them that He is the Bread of Life, Who nourishes and sustains them. 

God, in His love, has been known to bring warning signals and red flags to His people in order to protect them from impending danger.

God, in His love, has promised that if we repent and turn from our sins, and follow after Him that abundant blessings will follow. 

PRAYER:  We have been called by God to be a house of prayer.  We have been promised by God that when His people, who are called by His name, humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, THEN He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land.  I pray I will examine my heart and have true repentance that is revealed by my changed attitude and actions. Thank You God for loving me, forgiving me, guiding me and for saving me!  No one is too far gone or too evil to repent, and there is such joy in heaven over each repentant sinner! I pray I will be faithful in praying for the lost, and leading them to You.  Amen

- Robin Orefice