SCRIPTURE: Joel 1:13-20

OBSERVATIONS

1. (vv.12-20) The devastation of the crops is seen as a sign of God’s judgment, the ‘day of the Lord’. Joel is calling the people to repent before it is too late.
APPLICATION: Are there warning signs for me, for the church, or for our nation, signs that point to the dangers of disregarding God? Is God trying to get my attention, but I am not paying attention?

2. (vv.14) Joel is not just calling for personal repentance but for national repentance, for everyone to come together in a sacred assembly, for the purpose of humbling themselves before God.
APPLICATION: Maybe we need to respond as a community (church) to our current malaise (apathy, stickness) with a sacred assembly, a corporate gathering of humility (see 2 Chronicles 7:13-14).

3. (vv.19-20) ”To You I call” and ”even the animals pant for You” is an interesting parallel, echoing the words of Psalm 42:1-2. It suggests that our natural longings more deeply reflect our spiritual dependence on God.
APPLICATION: My heart is panting for more, to see the ‘fruit’ of life-change and community impact. In one sense we are experiencing a drought. If the harvest is plentiful, why are we missing it? (Matthew 9:36-38).

PRAYER:
Lord, in some ways we have grown accustomed to our spiritually impoverished state, thinking its normal. Shake us, wake us and lead us to our knees, that we may see Your blesding! Amen.