God Restores and brings Victory

The book of Joel, like all of God’s Word, gives us great insight into God’s nature. God uses His prophet Joel to warn His people in Judah about the coming judgement of His, described as locusts who eat all the harvest (Joel 1:4).  This would be hard for us to hear, and even harder yet would be the disappearance of all we have worked so hard to accomplish. But God, in His love, wants our accomplishments to last an eternity, where we will share in His praises forever.  Therefore, the Lord warned His people about the coming judgment for their sins, and gave them an invitation to repent.

For some, repentance is too hard. Putting on the attitude of sackcloth, mourning, and fasting are not what we want to do, so we say “I’m sorry” to the Lord without a real heart-felt change in our behavior. Without sincere repentance, the locusts come.

Joel also talks about the Lord’s grace during the time of chastening His people. “He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.  Who knows?  He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing – grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.” (Joel 2:13b-14).  The offerings of the Old Testament are similar to our offerings of today.  “ . . . I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices . . .” (Rom 12:1). When the Lord extends His grace, He enables us to give Him the very things we have been withholding from Him: our lives and our love.  Our sincere repentance not only changes our hearts, it changes God’s judgment.

When God relents, He restores.  Joel told God’s people that the Lord would restore the years the locusts had eaten (Joel 2:25).  God also intended on turning their shame into glory, for He promised to send the Holy Spirit upon them.  “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29).

God’s promises to His repentant people went beyond restoration.  The Lord gave them victory over their enemies.  “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears.  Let the weakling say ‘I am strong!’” (Joel 3:10). Though an army of locusts had destroyed their crops, God’s people eventually destroyed their enemies.

God then declares “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill.  Jerusalem will be holy, never again will foreigners invade her.” (Joel 3:17).  Their sincere repentance had brought such a great change that they would not come under their enemy’s captivity again.  This is also a true message for God’s people today. Perhaps we have not dealt with sin, and have seen the Lord’s judgment on our lives.  But after we sincerely repent He will restore us, and make us strong.  Our change will be deep and permanent, and we will forever live with the Lord and be His people.  Our works also will be eternal, living on in His kingdom forever.  We will have the victory over what once held us captive, and best of all, we will be holy.  Amen.