7th October 2024

Joel’s comparatively brief prophetic book, addressed to the nation of Judah, ploughs a similar furrow to other accounts from the prophets. This recurring theme focuses on Israel’s or Judah’s rejection of God in preference for the idols served by nations around them; the punishments experienced for idolatry, and forgetting their God; a call to repentance, and forgiveness and restoration. In many ways it is what the entire biblical record is about.

The warnings and subsequent words of comfort and hope are embedded in the Old Testament, but in Acts 2:16-21, in a passionate speech delivered on the Day of Pentecost following Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, the Apostle Peter makes it relevant to the New Testament church when he draws on Joel’s prophecy: “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions…And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved…”  (Joel 2:28,32).

There is evidence that this is being fulfilled by the New Testament church. The work of the apostles was accompanied by many miraculous events, but these dramatic events – the evidence of Christ working powerfully with His fledgling church – were a moment in time, but the church continues His work until the ultimate fulfilment of this prophecy.

The language that Joel uses is loaded heavily with pastoral references from failed harvests, locust infestations and bountiful harvests. It looks back to the perfection of Eden, destroyed by sin, and forward to a future where that perfection is restored. There are expressions of deep love flowing from the Lord to His people, and promises overflowing with generosity from the Giver of all things. It is a story of love, forgiveness of sin, and restoration. And this full and freely given forgiveness is only possible through the future ultimate suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. Without that the promises of restoration have no meaning.

These promises are reflected in the ministry of Christ, on this earth: the healings, even bringing the dead back to life, the physical and spiritual feeding of hungry people, the controlling of a violent storm, the power over the forces of evil – these are all whispers of that perfect and joyful future that Joel refers to in Joel 3:18: “And it will come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip with new wine , the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water…”

That future is only reached through a prophesied time of suffering which Joel graphically documents and which can’t be ignored, but we are given comfort that being close to Jesus, ‘calling on His name’ (Joel 2:32), we are safe in His hands.

¹ Joel 2:27

Local congregation:
GCI Market Harborough
9 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough
LE16 7QU

Meeting time:
Sunday 4.00 pm
Local congregational contact:
Sinead Henderson
Email: sinead.henderson@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church