Good Morning Friends,
“Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live
in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days
of your forefathers? Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to
their children, and their children to the next generation. What the locust
swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left
the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts
have eaten.” (Joel 1:2-4)
Judgment came upon Judah. It was judgment the
likes of which had never come upon that nation before. The prophet had a word
from God about how to respond to it.
“Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!” (Joel
1:5)
“Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving
for the husband of her youth.” (Joel 1:8)
“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.
Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your
God, and cry out to the LORD.” (Joel 1:14)
The people of Israel had been ignoring God
and God’s patience with them ran out. God brought judgment upon the nation to
wake them up. Repentance was the response God desired and required.
Oh, if they had only listened to God before
judgment came. If they had only lived in repentance before God had to use such
drastic measures to get their attention.
God will get people’s attention. He cares too
much to allow them to continue to ignore Him and His Word. God’s patience will
not go on forever.
Judgment awaited the nation of Israel because
they ignored God. Judgment awaits any nation that ignores God. Judgment awaits
any individual who ignores God.
Judgment came to the northern kingdom of Israel
and that nation was destroyed and that nation has never been regathered and
rebuilt – only the southern kingdom of Judah survived.
Judgment also came upon Judah and they were
sent into captivity … the pain was severe. It was pain they could have avoided
if only they had listened to God.
If only America would listen! If only each of
us would listen!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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