The LORD's Voice Joel 2:11

Joel the prophet told the people of Judah, “the earth, heavens, sun, moon and stars” would be affected by the invasion of the enemy “nation”, and in verse eleven of chapter two of his prophecy, Joel shared about the “LORD” uttering “his voice before his army” where we read:

And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

The verse begins, “And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great:” Joel began, “And the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the one true God” “shall utter” or “give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate and commit” “his voice” which means “the LORD's sound and noise” “before his army” which means “in the face of, presence of and in the person of his strength, might, efficiency, wealth and force” “for his camp” or “encampment, armed host, company and body of people” “is very great” which means “exceedingly, much, abounding, numerous and greater”. When the “LORD” sounds His voice before his invading “army” it is because it is so vast and large in number.

The verse goes on to say, “for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” Joel continued, “for he is strong” or “mighty, vast, numerous and countless” “that executes” which means “fashions, accomplishes, makes and produces” “his word” or “speech, speaking and utterance”: “for the day” which means “time, year, division of time and period” “of the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the one true God” “is great” or “large in intensity and importance” “and very terrible” which means “exceeding, much, abounding, numerous and greater to be feared, reverenced, honored and respected”; “and who can abide it” or “seize, contain, measure, calculate, contain, hold in, restrain and endure it”. The awesomeness of the LORD not only sounding his “voice” but also “accomplishing” his “word” validated and shared the importance of “the day of the LORD”.

When we meditate upon these words of Joel, we understand how powerful the “LORD” is when He decides to come against a people or land. No one can withstand or restrain Him when He chooses to move, and we should take note of the power in His “voice” and “word”. A relationship with Him through Jesus Christ is the only way to insure that He does not come against us as He did with this invading “nation” against Judah. May the LORD help us to know how amazing and powerful He is, and may we align with His ways rather than face His almighty “word”.

Next time shares how the LORD pleads for the people to “turn to him” with “all” their “heart”, 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.