The Jealous LORD Joel 2:18

Joel the prophet called upon the “priests” and “ministers” to “weep” and “call out” to the LORD on behalf of the people of Judah in hopes that He would “spare” the people and prevent the invading “heathen” nation from asking, “Where is your God?”. In chapter two and verse eighteen of his prophecy, Joel shares concerning the “jealousy” of the LORD “for His land” where we read:

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

The verse begins, “Then will the LORD be jealous for his land,...” Joel began with the phrase, “then will the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God responding” “be jealous” or “envious of and excited to jealous anger” “for his land” which refers to “the earth, country, territory, district, region and piece of ground”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and pity his people.” Joel continued, “and pity” or “spare and have compassion on” “his people” which refers to the people of Judah. Joel knew when the people of Judah humbled themselves before the LORD, He would “spare” them because of His great “compassion”.

When we think through these words of Joel, we see how the LORD is not “jealous of” but “jealous for” the people of His land. He desires to bless them, and when He sees people bow and humble themselves before Him, He opens the “windows of heaven” and pours blessings upon them. Through Jesus Christ we have access to the Heavenly Father, and when we make Him LORD of our lives, He stands waiting to pour out upon us.

Next time Joel shares concerning the LORD's response to the “priests” and “ministers” weeping, 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.