Read: Joel 1
The first
chapter of Joel is introduced with a natural disaster. A plague of locusts had hit the region as
part of judgment from the Lord. These
large grasshoppers devastated Judah. Verse
four emphasizes the totality of the destruction mentioning the cutting locust,
the swarming locust, the hopping locust and the destroying locust. Joel summons the people to hear, to awaken,
to weep and to wail. The people are
called to grieve and lament as a bride would mourn over her bridegroom if he
was snatched away from her (v. 8). This
disaster is so severe that there is no grain left for sacrificial offerings (v.
9). The situation was hopeless. A
calamity of this magnitude calls for repentance. The priests led the way in verses 13-14 to a
national fast. This fasting is corporate
in nature as the people and elders are assembled in the temple together to cry
out to the Lord. Joel refers to the Day
of the Lord in verse 15 which is a major theme in this book. It refers to a day of destruction for the
nation. If the locusts were not bad
enough vs. 17-20 speak of a drought that destroys the seeds, storehouses and
granaries. There is no water for the
beasts of the field to drink (v. 18) and fire has consumed the pastures (v. 19). Nothing will escape this judgment, things are
looking pretty bad!
Prayer and Journaling
1. What
does this passage teach us about God’s sovereignty over nature and natural
disasters?
2. Read
verses 13-15. This passage tells us much
about corporate repentance when national sins have been committed which is
something done regularly at Southland during Prayer Summits. What does God want to say to you today about
the importance of getting involved in corporate prayer? Where can you get
involved?
3. Is
there an area in your spiritual life where you feel like you aren’t making as
much progress as you would like? Ask the
Lord to show you how you can fast about this area.
