Year 2, Week 23, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 23, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Joel 2-3; Daniel 1.

Today’s reading completes the Book of Joel. Joel 2 begins with a strong warning of coming judgment, but shifts to a clear call to repent: “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster” (Joel 2:12-13). The LORD’s gracious character, which He revealed to Moses (see Exodus 34:6-7) serves as the basis for the opportunity given to repent. Joel 3 describes a glorious future that awaits Judah: “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it. “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim” (Joel 3:16-17). The LORD had not completely forgotten His people; He has judged them, but not forsaken them. Today’s reading also begins the Book of Daniel. Daniel 1 introduces us to Daniel and some of his friends, who were taken into Babylonian captivity during the first wave of deportations somewhere around 605 BC. Daniel and his friends, who were described in glowing terms morally and spiritual, had the hand of the LORD upon them: “As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Daniel 1:17).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is Joel’s usage of the term, “the Day of the LORD.” The notion of the term “the day of the LORD” in Joel (as well as other prophets) has several facets. First, it is used to refer to a day of judgment for Israel: “Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes. Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God?” (Joel 1:15-16). The “Day of the LORD” reflects the LORD as a victorious warrior; however, in this first usage of the term, the LORD’s victory is descriptive of Him successfully accomplishing judgment on His people. The judgment would express itself in destruction. Joel is not the only prophet to use the term in this fashion: “Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!” (Isaiah 13:6). Thus, “the Day of the LORD” is something to be feared and avoided: “The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?” (Joel 2:11).

But the term “the Day of the LORD” has another usage. The term is also used to refer to a special visitation of renewal as the LORD’s saving power is demonstrated upon his people: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes” (Joel 2:28-31). The mighty work of the LORD in judgment would be accompanied by the stirring of God’s Spirit. The “Day of the LORD” will have a saving outcome for those who respond to what the LORD is doing in judgment: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Joel 2:32a). And while everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved, Joel reveals to us that such a calling upon the LORD is rooted in a called from the LORD: “For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls” (Joel 2:32b). The LORD who judges also draws His people to find refuge in Him: “Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel” (Joel 3:14-16). The LORD who roars in judgment is also the LORD who is a refuge of salvation.

The New Testament applies both notions of the term “the Day of the LORD.” Warnings of judgment are still associated with the term: “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2); and: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Peter 3:10). And associated with the warning of judgment there are assurances of salvation: “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:7b-10a). Peter, in the Day of Pentecost, quotes Joel, not only in regard to the renewing work of the Spirit by also in regard to the saving work that comes to all who call upon Christ: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe