First considering Joel, as he prophesied earlier than Jonah:
Joel was a preacher to the northern tribes of Israel, probably around the time of Jehu or Joash, in a similar period to the prophet Elisha - although the time is not known with any certainty. The book does not itself give direct reference to a specific time we can pinpoint, possibly because the message does not need this - it is a message relevant for all times.
Joel describes the devastation of the suffering that the children of Israel have faced recently in very descriptive language. We who live in a land of plenty do not really understand what famine means in many ways - we see it on the news sometimes, but it is hard to know exactly what the people go through. He recounts the environmental devastation as a warning from God, a call to repentance, and warns that the time is coming when the judgement will come by war also, and bring even more devastation. We see the heart of the Lord in the latter half of chapter five - that longing for His people to come to Him, to return. The change in tone in verse 18 seems to indicate some turning back of the people - some pleading for help at least and realising their dependence on Him, hopefully some turned back out of genuine repentance and acknowledgement of God. In light of this, the Lord turns to bless His people both with food and protection from their enemies. He has control over the plants, the beasts, the rain, and the nations around.
The passage leads on into a discussion of future events - perhaps the repentance between v17 and v18 is also somewhat prophatic, foreshadowing a future time when many will turn back to the Lord and He will bless them in the Millennial kingdom. Certainly Peter indicated in Acts 2 that there was a partial fulfilment at Pentecost, but the full prophecy is still yet to be fulfilled in a coming day. How glorious will that day be, to see many turning again to their Lord and Saviour!
Joel finishes with describing the judgement of the nations. Not all will turn and repent - some will reject God and exploit and persecute the innocent, and especially His people - God will return the suffering they inflict upon their own heads.
These verses seem to be the cornerstone of Joel:
And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
(Joe 2:11-13)
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
(Joe 2:26)
The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
(Joe 3:16-17)
A good reminder to be sincere and realise our dependence upon Him when coming to the Lord - He is Great, Righteous, Gracious, and Merciful. Blessed be His Name!
Considering Jonah, I was contemplating how God uses everyone for His purposes - Jonah was unwilling to the point of running away, but not because he was scared of the people of Ninevah, but because He knew God well enough as a merciful and gracious God and he hated the people of Ninevah. He wanted the judgement to come upon them - he wanted to watch the judgement fall. There are many people today who seem to have this idea, though perhaps more subtly. There is a selfish concern for wanting the exclusive privilege for 'being right' and delight in seeing others suffer - but this is not the characteristic of a Christian. People like this may claim the name, but they have not experienced the love of God that reaches towards all, nor their own unworthiness before God. Yet God can still use them. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul, who said
"What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."(Php 1:18)
(provided it is the true gospel that is preached, and not a false gospel, which Paul also warns about!!!!)
I am also reminded of stories where famous preachers have left 'Christianity' after preaching the gospel for many years, and denying that they believe it any longer. Having never truly believed and repented, they were still used of God for bringing about true repentance and faith in others - He uses both Christians and non-Christians to bring Him glory in different ways, but it is always His power and not ours that works. Of course this does not minimise our responsibility to follow His guidance - if He can work with an unwilling tool to His glory how much more a willing tool!
But ultimately, in Jonah we see the care and concern of God. He sees the innocent and the guilty in the city and He loves them - He holds off judgement long enough for a warning to go out, and in this case they respond fully - judgement is forestalled! How great a testimony to the glory of the Lord than the chief city of the leading world empire at that time all repenting in sackcloth and ashes before God! He cares for all - nations and individuals, and would have everyone everywhere come to repentance and knowledge of the truth. How are we - how am I - showing His concern for others?
No comments:
Post a Comment