Gracious Restitution

Jordan Bradley

Joel: The Day of the Lord • Sermon • Submitted 8 months ago • Presented 8 months ago

Joel 2:18–32

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A Word about the current events in Israel.

Before we turn to our passage in Joel this morning, I need to say that I bring this sermon to you with a heavy heart. You likely are all aware of what is currently taking place in Israel.

Late Friday evening and yesterday morning, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and on Simchat Torah (the resetting of the weekly Torah reading, literally meaning “Rejoicing in the Torah”) Palestinians from the Gaza strip entered into Israel by tearing down barricades, and by ship on the Mediterranean Sea, and by air with paraglides, while simultaneously launching thousands of rockets into major population centers, overwhelming the iron dome as well as disabling it.

At the last time I checked, at 7:45 this morning, over six hundred Israelis have been killed. Over one thousand have been injured. Over one hundred Israeli citizens have been kidnapped (mainly women, girls, and children), and paraded through the streets of Gaza, along with the dead bodies of Israel Defense Force soldiers.

What may not be as well-known is:

Hezbollah, another Islamist terrorist organization lies just north of the border in Lebanon, and they are ready to join the fight.

As we heard from Mike last week, Iran is weeks away from nuclear weapons, and Iran funds both Hamas and Hezbollah.

the second and third armies in Egypt are on the highest alert levels, seemingly ready to go to Gaza’s aid.

Al-Qaeda has said that they are willing to help come and fight.

Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel as the instigator in this attack. They were the ones on the brink of a historic peace deal with Israel.

We don’t need to be afraid.

While there may have been mistakes by the intelligence agencies concerning this attack, we can be assured that our God is not left unaware or powerless.

Psalm 121:4 “Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.”

Israel continues to be God’s Chosen People, and He will defend His people, for His own glory.

Zechariah 2:8 “For the Lord of Armies says this: “In pursuit of his glory, he sent me against the nations plundering you, for whoever touches you touches the pupil of my eye.”

We need not be mistaken, one day, the LORD is going to gather the Nations and judge them based on the way that they treat the Jewish People AND His Land.

Joel 3:2 “I will gather all the nations and take them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment with them there because of my people, my inheritance Israel. The nations have scattered the Israelites in foreign countries and divided up my land.”

Israel, both Jew and Arab, needs the Gospel, they need the Lord. One day, the Prince of Peace will come, and will bring true Peace to Jerusalem.

Psalm 122:6–9 “Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure; may there be peace within your walls, security within your fortresses.” Because of my brothers and friends, I will say, “May peace be in you.” Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will pursue your prosperity.”

May we pray that the Lord would use this in the Israelis lives the way we’ve been seeing in Joel, to call many to Himself in Christ.

Let’s do that now, let’s pray for peace.

PRAY

Introduction

If you have your bible, please turn with me to Joel 2.

Last time we started chapter 2 of Joel’s prophecy. What we noticed is that the description of the locust army in chapter 2, verses 1-11.

We discussed that the locust plague acted as a prefigure of the coming future day of the Lord. They alluded to the day in which judgment comes upon the whole earth.

We did, however, noted that this day of the Lord fulfillment was taking place against God’s people, and we considered, in what God would have His people do. Namely, repent. The fact that this precursor to the the Day of the Lord came before the great and terrible day was:

A Matter of Grace (v. 12, 13).

A Matter of the heart (vv. 12, 13).

A Matter of importance (vv. 15-17).

They were to call a solemn assembly, to bring the elders, to bring the nursing infants and children, interrupt honeymoons, to put a stop the to sacrifices (literally the priests were to stop between the porch and the altar) and intercede for God to have pity or have compassion on His people as they tore their hearts before Him.

Even more so, look at the end of verse 17, they were no longer concerned for themselves, but they were concerned now about God’s glory: Joel 2:17 “Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Have pity on your people, Lord, and do not make your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ””

Today, we look at the Lord’s response. Let’s begin by reading Joel 2:18-32.

We’ll see this in two main headings:

Salvation Prefigured (vv. 18-27).

Salvation Prophesied (vv. 28-32).

Salvation Prefigured (vv. 18-27).

We see here divine reversals out of the Lord’s response to the repentance of the People.

Reversal with the locusts (v.20).

Remember these could be both the invading army of last month, or the legitimate locust plague of chapter one. It is somewhat difficult to tell.

Verse 25, we see the list from Joel 1:4.

The locusts, who once were vibrant and prosperous, rot and died.

Reversal with the land.

v.19. the grain, new wine, and oil are the very things that we saw consumed in 1:10, 13, 17.

Notice that these were attached to the worship (the grain and drink offerings).

They were unable to perform the temple worship because of the locust plague.

The land that was barren, now produces abundantly, and rejoices (v. 21).

Reversal of the beasts.

v.22.

All of this mirrors what happens in the future, after the Day of Lord.

Nature groans for the revealing of God’s sons: Romans 8:18-22.

During the Millennial Kingdom, the curse is abated: Isaiah 11:6-9.

Reversal of the People.

v. 18b. God shows compassion in response to the repentance.

From mourning in sackcloth to rejoicing because of the Lord’s provision.

They will never be put to shame again (v. 19, 26, & 27).

Now, we understand that the Jewish People have been become a reproach again, so this is somewhat of a near/far fulfillment.

Now, they are a reproach that the world seeks to cast off, but in the future, according to Revelation 20:4-6, they will reign with Christ and His Bride, in His Kingdom for 1,000 years.

Reversal of God.

We saw this last time after discussing repentance. Look again at Joel 2:12-14.

What we see here is God’s response to true repentance,

true repentance is focused on the glory of God, and not on the consequences of sin.

Joel 2:17 “Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Have pity on your people, Lord, and do not make your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ””

God’s act remains totally of grace, unmerited favor.

Joel 2:25. God pays back what happened because the locusts. HE DID NOTHING WRONG!!!

He paid the debt!

This is the Gospel in a locust plague.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Notice why God acted in verses 18-27:

v.18: His Land and People.

The LORD had covenanted with the People. In fact, we see Joel quote Moses words when God made the Mosaic Covenant with the people (Joel 2:13; Exodus 34:6-7).

Deuteronomy 11:11–17 “But the land you are entering to possess is a land of mountains and valleys, watered by rain from the sky. It is a land the Lord your God cares for. He is always watching over it from the beginning to the end of the year. “If you carefully obey my commands I am giving you today, to love the Lord your God and worship him with all your heart and all your soul, I will provide rain for your land in the proper time, the autumn and spring rains, and you will harvest your grain, new wine, and fresh oil. I will provide grass in your fields for your livestock. You will eat and be satisfied. Be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside, serve, and bow in worship to other gods. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you. He will shut the sky, and there will be no rain; the land will not yield its produce, and you will perish quickly from the good land the Lord is giving you.”

Deuteronomy 30:1–3 ““When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul by doing everything I am commanding you today, then he will restore your fortunes, have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.”

He jealous for HIS Land (Joel 2:18).

Zechariah 1:14 “So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: The Lord of Armies says: I am extremely jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.”

Zechariah 8:2 “The Lord of Armies says this: “I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.””

v. 26: They praise the name of the LORD God.

Spiritual Salvation Promised (vv. 28-32).

The Spirit will be given to everyone who trusts in the Messiah.

The Salvation of from the Locust Plague points toward the day when all Israel will be saved.

Romans 11:26 “And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.”

We’ll talk more on this next week Lord willing.

A part of this salvation that differs from the OT is how the Holy Spirit is going to operate.

The Old Testament ministry of the Holy Spirit differs from the how He ministers now. Primarily in that He was given to those who lead the People of Israel, like King Saul or King David. And is spoke of those who who would prophesy (speak God’s Word). These leaders had a special relationship with the Lord.

1 Samuel 16:14. The Spirit leaving King Saul.

Psalm 51:11. David asking for the Spirit not to leave him.

2 Chronicles 15:1; 20:14; 24:20.

The OT speaks of a future ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Moses foretells:

Numbers 11:16-17. The Spirit that God put on Moses, was now put on the Elders for wisdom.

Numbers 11:29 “But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of Yahweh were prophets, that Yahweh would put His Spirit upon them!””

There were a couple of Elders that did not present themselves to Moses, yet were prophesying to the People. Joshua told Moses about it, and yet Moses foretells of a coming day when all will have the Holy Spirit.

The Prophets foretell:

Ezekiel 36:25-27.

Jesus speaks of this ministry difference in John 14:16, 17; 16:5-15.

We see that this ministry was beginning to be fulfilled in Acts 2:16-21, at the day of Pentecost.

Salvation from the Great and Awesome day of Lord will be granted to those who call on Him by faith.

The Global Scope (vv. 30, 31).

No longer regional.

God will graciously save those who call upon His Name in faith (v. 32).

Romans 10:13; 11:26.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, the time is short. So much of what we are facing today as a society are just birth pains of a greater coming Day of trouble.

Who knows? He may turn and relent from His wrath for a time, but is the Day of the Lord going to be a Day of Salvation for you or a day of darkness and gloom?

But today is the Day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:21–6:2 “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!”

Call on the name of the LORD and you will be saved.

PRAY

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