Joel 3 points to the final judgement of the nations and the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem. "In those days when I restore Judah and Jerusalem I will gather all nations... and enter into judgement against them... O Tyre, Sidon and Philistia... I will return on your heads what you have done... I will sell your children to the Jews and they will sell them to a nation far away... so prepare for war!... beat your ploughshares into swords... then let the nations be roused and advance into the valley of Jehoshaphat... and there I will judge them... multitudes in the valley of decision... the Lord will roar from Zion... but the Lord will be a refuge for his people... and Jerusalem will be holy... and a fountain will water the valley of acacias but Egypt will be desolate... yet Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations... the Lord dwells in Zion!
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Joel 2 (résumé): An army of locusts
Joel 2 continues to point to impending judgement for Israel whilst also mentioning God's mercy and future restoration. "Let all who live in the land tremble because the day of the Lord is coming... a day of darkness and gloom... a large and mighty army comes... nothing escapes them... they charge like warriors... they plunge through defenses... their forces are beyond number... the day of the Lord is great... it is dreadful. Who can endure it?... so return to me with all your heart... rend your heart rather than your garments... declare a holy fast... let them say spare your people, O Lord... for why should they say among the people - where is their God?... and the Lord will take pity on his people... and send you grain, and wine and oil... and I will drive the northern army from you... surely he has done great things... rejoice in the Lord your God... for the vats will overflow with new wine and oil... and I will repay you for the years that the locusts have eaten... and you will have plenty to eat and be full... then you will know that I am in Israel and that I am the Lord your God".
Joel 1 (résumé): An invasion of locusts
The Book of Job calls God's people to repentance whilst appointing to the possibilities of judgement or restoration.
This first chapter describes a catastrophic attack of locusts which affects all areas of Jewish society and which acts as a warning to them to repent before God. "Nothing like this locust attack has ever been seen... so wake up you drunkard and weep!... a nation without number has invaded the land... and has laid waste the vines and fig trees... the priests are in mourning... the farmers wail... the harvest has been destroyed... all the fruits and produce is devastated and everyone's joy is withered away... put on sackcloth O priests... declare a holy fast... call a solemn assembly and cry unto the Lord... for the day of the Lord is near... the storehouses are in ruins... the cattle moan because they have no pasture... and the streams have dried up".
Hosea 14 (résumé): Repentance to bring blessing
Hosea 14 brings the book to a close with hope and a strong call to repentance. "Return O Israel to God!.... say to him 'forgive all our sins... we will never again refer to our gods'... I will heal their waywardness and love them freely... and he will blossom like a lily... his splendour will be like an olive tree... men will dwell again in his shade... all your fruitfulness comes from me... the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them".
Hosea 13 (résumé): The Lord's anger against Israel
Hosea 13 is a further sad chapter depicting Israel's downfall and distancing from God. "Ephraim has become guilty of Baal worship and died... and they make elaborate idols for themselves... they offer human sacrifices and kiss the calf idols... therefore they will be like the morning mist... I am the Lord you God and you should worship no-one else... but when I fed them they became proud and forgot me... so like a lion I will devour them... I will destroy you Israel... where is your king that he may save you?... the guilt of Ephraim is stored up... I will have no compassion... the people of Samaria must bear their guilt because they have rebelled against their God".
Hosea 12 (résumé): Israel's sin
Hosea 12 continues God's stringent condemnation of Israel sometimes referring to Ephraim as Israel and comparing them with faithful Jacob despite his imperfections. "Ephraim feeds on the wind... and makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.... the Lord will punish Jacob... as a man he struggled with God... you must return to your God... Ephraim boasts about his riches thinking that it will hide his iniquity... I am the Lord your God... I spoke to the prophets and gave them many visions... but Ephraim has bitterly provoked him to anger... the Lord will repay him for his contempt".
Half of Hosea
I have written the synopses of the first half of the 14 chapters of Hosea which is the first of the minor prophets and the 28th book of the Bible.
Philip went last night to a service held at 'Campo Alegre' (Happy Field) Farm where a nice little crowd gather to hear the Gospel. Philip sung some songs for them which went down well.