338. The Promise Realized At Pentecost

Joel 2:12-32,

Key Verse:  Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.”

Joel 2:13

The reason that I chose to put this passage here is mostly because of Peter’s reference to it, as we will see later.  Scholars do not agree on exactly when Joel was written so it is unclear exactly what calamity, or plague of locusts Joel is referring to earlier in his book.  That is what makes the application of this passage appropriate at this time in the life of Christ.

True, in matter of fact, Joel is referring to the Lord’s restoration after a devastating plague of locusts has destroyed the land. Joel explains, earlier, that the locusts are a punishment from God because the people have wandered away from Him and as a result have lived lives of disobedience. In other words, God has once again kept His promises made in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. He has been faithful to His Word, to punish when His people disobey.

Now, throughout the life of Jesus, the Jewish people have lived under the invasion of not locusts, but another type of army, a Roman one, but many of the results of living under Roman oppression are similar to the damage an army of locusts can achieve. Crops are seized to feed hungry soldiers.  Income is heavily taxed, leaving most of the citizens in poverty.  Only the leadership, guilty of compromise, truly enjoy a life of ease and comfort.  As part of the compromise, however, the leaders rob the people of life itself under the guise of religious rules which are equally oppressive. In the end, the most blatant disobedience is shown by leading the country to murder innocence for selfish reasons.

Yet, even now, those who rend their hearts and repent of their wrong are being offered the blessing of forgiveness and restoration.  “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten…You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you, never again will My people be shamed.”  (Joel 2:25-26)

When Peter refers to this passage, he will expound upon how the people will see this promise fulfilled right there among them as they are gathered to celebrate the Pentecost harvest festival at the temple. God is going to do an amazing work of restoration that will fill those who receive it with something that can never be taken away. When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, in John 4, He had said about this gift, “Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  (John 4:14B) 

A restoration, a filling is about to occur outside of everyone’s expectations, outside of their comfort zone where God does His best work. “And afterwards, 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)  Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Hymn: “Gracious SpiritDwell With Me”