INTRODUCTION
Many pastors are afraid to speak from the minor prophets because it makes them uncomfortable for fear of misrepresenting God as cruel or unfair.
SERMON PROPER
Joel preached in the wake of a major widespread crisis as we can see from v2 of Ch 1. Looking at vv 4-7 we learnt that locusts had been attacking their precious harvest. Everything has been stripped bare. Their joy had dried up. During such crisis, most preachers will focus on God's help etc. but not Joel. He speaks of God as their terror v15. He used the pun on the name of God used here, "Almighty Shaddai" with the word for destruction "Shod". from Shaddai" It is destruction not help that is coming from the almighty. Instead of saying something comforting, Joel is sounding the warning, "things will get worse..." Instead of singing "O God Our Help in Ages Past," Joel says in 2:12 "O God our Horror in Ages Present." What must we do in the face of the warning?
It is easy to misunderstand Joel like Job's friends. Illustration: There was a man, Harold whose son died together with other children during a school trip. In responding to his grief, his Christian friends replied, “You may have sinned and God wants you to repent.” Harold asked, "What sin have I committed?" His friend continued, "You might have done something sinful. If you are willing, I will go through the 39 categories of sin in the bible and find out." Harold could not believe in a god who is cruel enough to punish first before telling him what terrible sin he had done. It goes against reason. No wise or loving father would punish a child without telling him what he is punished for first. And God is no stupid parent. This idea that his son's death must be a punishment from God was something Harold could not bring himself to believe. He rejected this god.
Many pastors are afraid to speak from the minor prophets because it makes them uncomfortable for fear of misrepresenting God as cruel or unfair.
SERMON PROPER
Joel preached in the wake of a major widespread crisis as we can see from v2 of Ch 1. Looking at vv 4-7 we learnt that locusts had been attacking their precious harvest. Everything has been stripped bare. Their joy had dried up. During such crisis, most preachers will focus on God's help etc. but not Joel. He speaks of God as their terror v15. He used the pun on the name of God used here, "Almighty Shaddai" with the word for destruction "Shod". from Shaddai" It is destruction not help that is coming from the almighty. Instead of saying something comforting, Joel is sounding the warning, "things will get worse..." Instead of singing "O God Our Help in Ages Past," Joel says in 2:12 "O God our Horror in Ages Present." What must we do in the face of the warning?
It is easy to misunderstand Joel like Job's friends. Illustration: There was a man, Harold whose son died together with other children during a school trip. In responding to his grief, his Christian friends replied, “You may have sinned and God wants you to repent.” Harold asked, "What sin have I committed?" His friend continued, "You might have done something sinful. If you are willing, I will go through the 39 categories of sin in the bible and find out." Harold could not believe in a god who is cruel enough to punish first before telling him what terrible sin he had done. It goes against reason. No wise or loving father would punish a child without telling him what he is punished for first. And God is no stupid parent. This idea that his son's death must be a punishment from God was something Harold could not bring himself to believe. He rejected this god.
Harold is correct in rejecting such an unbiblical idea of God. Our God does not punish us without telling us first. Joel does not make the mistake of Job’s friends. He never specified any specific sin that his readers need to turn away from. He doesn't assume that they have sinned but sees the terrible crisis as a loud cry to call them to return to God with all their heart. Rather, what he says as a correct respond to the crisis is to turn to God in fervent prayer and recommitment, similar to what Jesus taught in Luke 13.
In Luke 13, Jesus referred to two incidents/accidents:
V 1 There were Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Were these men worse sinners compared to those who survived?
V 1 There were Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Were these men worse sinners compared to those who survived?
V 2-4 Building accident: 18 died when the tower in Siloam fell on them. Were they more guilty or course not?
The point that Jesus wants to make is for listeners not to make that simple equation that all who suffer calamities must have sinned one way or another. In v 5 Jesus urges his listeners, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” to turn to God in repentance.
Each national or personal crisis is a loud alarm, drawing our attention to turn to God. Now is the time to renew your relationship to God, with all your heart, mind and strength. Because crises happen all the time, it is easy to become callous/indifferent to the tragedies in our world. Each tragedy should be an impetus, a reminder that life on earth is very fragile and can affect us at any moment, so we must not delay to turn to God.
If we were to ask, “What have I done wrong?” that specific sin is only known to you. Only you will know. Only you can answer that question in that particular time in your life. If you are honestly unaware of any sin, there is no need to go witch hunting, to invent a sin to confess to God. We should not allow any counselor or friend to dig up some secret sin whether imaginary or a previously forgiven one, in the light of that crisis.
What then should one do in this case? Just do a general confession of sin and renew your commitment to live for God, to return to the Lord fervently with all our hearts. Now is the time to worship God in Spirit and truth. If at the time of crisis, you know there is a particular sin and you are indirectly, persistently stubbornly continuing in sin, you don't need God to tell you. The message is clear that you have been listening for some time now in your own conscience.
V12-13 What type of repentance is God looking for? How to repent? What Joel pointed out is that any superficial show of repentance is not important. In the old testament, the metaphor for the mind and will is the word, “heart” and the metaphor for the emotion is the word, “kidney”. What God desires is a firm resolve with our minds and will to stop sinning and start in a new direction.
Illustration: The story is told of a shoplifter who writes to a department store and says, "I've just become a Christian, and I can't sleep at night because I feel guilty. So here's $100 that I owe you."
V12-13 What type of repentance is God looking for? How to repent? What Joel pointed out is that any superficial show of repentance is not important. In the old testament, the metaphor for the mind and will is the word, “heart” and the metaphor for the emotion is the word, “kidney”. What God desires is a firm resolve with our minds and will to stop sinning and start in a new direction.
Illustration: The story is told of a shoplifter who writes to a department store and says, "I've just become a Christian, and I can't sleep at night because I feel guilty. So here's $100 that I owe you."
Then he signs his name, and in a little postscript at the bottom he adds, "If I still can't sleep, I'll send you the rest."
The illustration highlights the truth that we often feel really sorry but do not resolve to repent.
Illustration: Mark learnt it the hard way that his wife of many years has been carrying on an affair with someone in her workplace for 3 years now. Through her hp, he learnt how much she loved the man etc. He confronted her and offered to give her a divorce. But she didn't want one expressing that she wanted another chance not that this should not be told to the children since she cannot bear their anger and scorn. She promised to stop seeing the man, stop sleeping with the man if only he would give her a chance. Mark forgave her, kept the family together despite the betrayal, not wanting to put the family through the messy nightmare of a divorce. After that, things became so much better, she seemed much more caring. She no longer gave excuses when husband wanted sex. They even went on a family holiday and everything seemed so good. Mark was beginning to feel that somehow they’ll be able to work through the awful past.
Not being able to trust her completely, Mark would check her email account and hp every now and then. Right after their holiday, Mark found an email in her trash box which she had sent to the same man. She had wrote, “I wish you were here with me. Missed you.” Mark confronted her and she confessed that she found it hard to stop meeting him. Her cries may be sincere, but they were not sincere enough. If she had renounced the affair once and for all and was truly repentant, the ending could have been so different. Her failure to repent had brought disaster to her family.
Three weeks before the trip, the family had met with a mini crisis. Her son was caught in an accident and he almost lost his forearm. During that time, Mark’s wife went through a terrible time but there was no reason that her son’s accident was linked to her secret sin. No one suggested that to her. It would be wrong for anyone to suggest that as well. But in her heart, she knew that the incident was a trumpet blast from God. It was a loving warning for her sake, for her family’s sake. When things settled, she did not respond according to the conviction that she had. May be if she had heeded, she would have been able to salvage her marriage. May be she'll experience the grace and forgiveness of God. God calls us to repent. He does not want us to destroy ourselves or our families. The scar on her son’s arm was nothing compared to the pain and emotional scarring of her son’s heart.
The central symbol of the Christian church is a cross. At the cross, another tragedy took place where another son was scarred through no sin of his own. It is the tragic story of an innocent son, how will we respond to this tragedy and crisis? How do we respond to the Son of God who was tortured for our sakes. The only way we can answer the Lord ourselves is to rend our hearts , our minds, our souls, not just our clothes, renew our commitment, to resolve and to repent. Remember Matt Redman’s song, “Blessed Be Your Name”
Three weeks before the trip, the family had met with a mini crisis. Her son was caught in an accident and he almost lost his forearm. During that time, Mark’s wife went through a terrible time but there was no reason that her son’s accident was linked to her secret sin. No one suggested that to her. It would be wrong for anyone to suggest that as well. But in her heart, she knew that the incident was a trumpet blast from God. It was a loving warning for her sake, for her family’s sake. When things settled, she did not respond according to the conviction that she had. May be if she had heeded, she would have been able to salvage her marriage. May be she'll experience the grace and forgiveness of God. God calls us to repent. He does not want us to destroy ourselves or our families. The scar on her son’s arm was nothing compared to the pain and emotional scarring of her son’s heart.
The central symbol of the Christian church is a cross. At the cross, another tragedy took place where another son was scarred through no sin of his own. It is the tragic story of an innocent son, how will we respond to this tragedy and crisis? How do we respond to the Son of God who was tortured for our sakes. The only way we can answer the Lord ourselves is to rend our hearts , our minds, our souls, not just our clothes, renew our commitment, to resolve and to repent. Remember Matt Redman’s song, “Blessed Be Your Name”
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
May Joel’s message help us become people who, even in the wake of crisis disaster and crisis, turn to God once more, with all our heart and soul, mind and strength. It is important to turn again to God humbly for our own sakes, the sake of our families and for God’s sake, for God loves us so much.
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