Joel 5
Text: Joel 2:18–32
18 Then the Lord will pity his people, and jealously guard the honor of his land. 19 The Lord will reply, “Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations. 20 I will drive away these armies from the north. I will send them into the parched wastelands. Those in the front will be driven into the Dead Sea, and those at the rear into the Mediterranean. The stench of their rotting bodies will rise over the land.” Surely the Lord has done great things! 21 Don’t be afraid, O land. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things. 22 Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more. 23 Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. 24 The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil. 25 The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. 26 Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. 27 Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced. 28 “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. 30 And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth—blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives. 32 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.
Theme: When God’s people repent sincerely, He responds with mercy, restoration, and His abiding presence.
I. GOD’S JEALOUSY FOR HIS PEOPLE (vv. 18–20)
A. God’s Jealous Love
Exodus 20:5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
B. God Fights for the Repentant
Exodus 14:14 — “The Lord Himself will fight for you; just stay calm.”
C. God’s Loving Discipline
II. GOD’S PROVISION FOR HIS PEOPLE (vv. 21–24)
A. God Reverses Devastation
B. Abundance and Anointing
Psalm 65:11 — “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.”
C. God Replenishes The Past
Luke 6:38 — He gives “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
III. GOD’S RESTORATION OF LOST YEARS (vv. 25–27)
A. The Great Promise
B. No More Shame
C. Example: Joseph’s Restoration
D. God Redeems Every Season In Christ, No Season is Wasted
Romans 8:28: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Philippians 1:6: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
IV. GOD’S SPIRIT POURED OUT (vv. 28–32)
A. The Outpouring of the Spirit
B. Empowerment for All
C. The Promise of Salvation
D. Overflow, Not Dryness
Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
18 Then the Lord will pity his people, and jealously guard the honor of his land. 19 The Lord will reply, “Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations. 20 I will drive away these armies from the north. I will send them into the parched wastelands. Those in the front will be driven into the Dead Sea, and those at the rear into the Mediterranean. The stench of their rotting bodies will rise over the land.” Surely the Lord has done great things! 21 Don’t be afraid, O land. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things. 22 Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more. 23 Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. 24 The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil. 25 The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. 26 Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. 27 Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced. 28 “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. 30 And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth—blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives. 32 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.
Theme: When God’s people repent sincerely, He responds with mercy, restoration, and His abiding presence.
I. GOD’S JEALOUSY FOR HIS PEOPLE (vv. 18–20)
A. God’s Jealous Love
Exodus 20:5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
B. God Fights for the Repentant
Exodus 14:14 — “The Lord Himself will fight for you; just stay calm.”
C. God’s Loving Discipline
II. GOD’S PROVISION FOR HIS PEOPLE (vv. 21–24)
A. God Reverses Devastation
B. Abundance and Anointing
Psalm 65:11 — “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.”
C. God Replenishes The Past
Luke 6:38 — He gives “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
III. GOD’S RESTORATION OF LOST YEARS (vv. 25–27)
A. The Great Promise
B. No More Shame
C. Example: Joseph’s Restoration
D. God Redeems Every Season In Christ, No Season is Wasted
Romans 8:28: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Philippians 1:6: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
IV. GOD’S SPIRIT POURED OUT (vv. 28–32)
A. The Outpouring of the Spirit
B. Empowerment for All
C. The Promise of Salvation
D. Overflow, Not Dryness
Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?