Because the
invading “nation”
was to come upon Judah for their apostasy from the LORD, Joel the
prophet described over and over again just how fierce this “nation”
would be. He declared how the LORD would “utter
his voice before his army” because “his
camp is
very great” and He “executes
his word”. He added that the “day
of the LORD is great and very terrible”,
and he asked, “who can abide it?”
In chapter two and verse twelve of his prophecy, Joel shares the
LORD's appeal for the people to “turn even
to” Him “with all”
their “heart”
where we read:
Therefore
also now, says the LORD, turn even
to me with all your heart,
and with
fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
The
verse begins, “Therefore also now,
says the LORD, turn even
to me with all your heart,...” Joel
began with the word, “Therefore also
now says”
which is the Hebrew word “nĕ'um”
a conclusion word which should draw us to ask, “what is the
therefore, there for?” In this case, because of the invading
“nation's”
power and might destined to be used against Judah the “utterance,
declaration and revelation of” “the
LORD”
which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the
proper name for the one true God” was to “turn”
or “return,
turn back and repent” “even to me
with all your heart”
which means “with the inner man, mind, will, soul and
understanding”. After the defection by the people of Judah, the
LORD still calls out to them to “repent” and “turn”
to Him with “all”
their “mind, will, soul and understanding”.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and with fasting, and with weeping,
and with mourning:” Joel added, “and with fasting”
which means “deprivation of food or drink”, “and with
weeping” or “dripping, overflowing and lamentation”, “and
with mourning” which refers to “wailing and lamentation”.
Physical deprivation and lament would demonstrate the people's
willingness not only to be sorry for their abandonment of the ways of
God, but to change their ways and follow Him.
When
we think through these words of Joel, we discover the LORD's plea for
the people of Judah to return to a relationship with Him. The LORD
desires for them to come back to Him with “all their heart”
and to demonstrate this by outward “denial of food and water”,
“wailing”, and “lamentation”. Perhaps we have
“turned” away from the LORD and His ways, and the LORD
will use this verse speak to us individually. If so, let us “return”
to Jesus Christ and His ways with outward manifestations of “fasting,
weeping and mourning”.
Next
time Joel tells the people of Judah to “rend their heart
and not their garment”, so
read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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