Joel the
prophet called upon to people of Judah to consider how their “meat”,
“joy”, “gladness”, “seed”,
“garners”, “barns” and “corn” were
affected by the invading “nation”. They abandoned the ways
of God, and the result was thorough devastation. In chapter one and
verse eighteen of his prophecy, Joel added “beasts, cattle and
flocks of sheep” to the destruction where we read:
How do the
beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed,
because
they have no pasture; yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
The
verse begins, “How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are
perplexed,...” Joel began with the phrase, “How do the
beasts” or “cattle, animals and livestock” “groan”
or “sigh, moan, and gasp in pain or grief”! “the herds”
which means “flocks, droves and musters” “of cattle”
or “ox, herds, calve and cows” “are perplexed” which
means “confused”. If we use our imaginations we can almost hear
and see the horrific and awful conditions of these livestock and
“cattle”.
The
verse continues, “...because they have no pasture; yes, the
flocks of sheep are made desolate.” Joel provided the reason
the “cattle” are acting the way they are, “because
they have no pasture” or “pasturage or feeding-place; “yes
the flocks” which means “herds, droves and musters” “of
sheep” or “small cattle, goats and flocks usually of sheep
and goats” “are made desolate” which means “offended,
guilty, doing wrong, committing an offense, do injury, become guilty
and trespass”. Instead of feeding areas where the food was rich,
the fields were scarce with provision and the “sheep” were
“injured” by them.
When
we think through these words of Joel, we see how even the animals
were affected by the invasion of this “nation”. There may
be times when we feel like everything in our lives has suffered ruin
and destruction, and we may wonder where we are to turn? God Almighty
provided the example of the destruction of Judah through Joel the
prophet that we may understand what happens when people forsake God's
ways. If we are suffering loss and devastation like these within
Judah, perhaps we should ask the LORD Jesus if there are any areas
where we have abandoned his ways.
Next
time Joel declares, “O LORD, to you will I cry”,
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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