Return to the Lord

Steve McKenzie October 30, 2022

October 30, 2022

BACKGROUND

Joel was written roughly around 525 BC. This would be after Israel was taken into exile by the Babylonians and about 10-15 years into their return to the land God promised.
- Though there is no consensus on the actual date of Joel, we see several details in the text that would suggest a post-exilic date: [1] Exile treated as past event (3:2-3), [2] conquest of Jerusalem (3:17), [3] no king is mentioned, [4] the temple plays a positive role with no prophetic denouncement against idolatry or syncretism as mentioned in Hosea and Amos, [5] anger toward Edom best explained by their treatment of Israel when the Babylonians invaded.
The date and situation of Joel led to the opening question: what do you believe about God when the pain of life returns?

JOY IS DRIED UP

Compounded suffering drains our joy in God. Joy being the resolute assurance that God is present in my pain and powerful toward my problems.
Follow the verbs…
- Hear/Listen (1:2)
- Tell your kids (1:3)
- Wake-up (1:5)
- Grieve (1:8)

Lament (1:13)
Tear your hearts (2:13)
Turn to God with your whole heart (2:12)
Question: How do you tend to understand the character of God when he calls you to repentance?