Justin Houtz

Joel 2

DateVersionReading Plan
@November 7, 2023ESV (2016)ESV Prophets Plan 2023

Pericopes

  • The Day of the Lord
  • Return to the Lord
  • The Lord Had Pity
  • The Lord Will Pour Our His Spirit

Application

The day of the LORD was coming and it would bring thick darkness and blackness. The destruction of the locust army would be efficient and complete. Yet the LORD would provide an opportunity to repent, to come to Him in “fasting, with weeping, and with mourning” (Joel 2:12). By this, God shows that He is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster” (Joel 2:14). God responds to their plea with compassion, to restore all that the locusts destroyed and to one-day pour out His Spirit on all flesh. However, there is also a warning of future judgment, a day to inspire awe for all who call on His name but also great terror for those who do not.

The words “Yet even now” of Joel 2:12 struck me today. In the midst of pending annihilation, God gave them occasion to return to Him with all their hearts. In this He showed His immense patience, “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9). Bringing this into our context, our “Yet even now” is that we live in God’s “grace period”; an unmerited span of time provided for humanity to turn toward Him in repentance, to declare Him as Lord and embrace Him as Savior. This is such an amazing gift to be given; not only that we can die to ourselves and live for Him, but that He has extended every opportunity for us to do so.

Scripture Journal Notes

Commentaries & Resources Used