Return to the Lord: A Study in JoelSample

What does it say?

Joel described the locust plague that devastated the land of Judah. The prophet urged repentance in view of the coming day of the Lord, the day of God’s judgment.

What does it mean?

Although the description of the locust devastation is grim, God was using this plague and drought to warn Judah of a far worse disaster to come. An appeal to wake up, to mourn, and to repent was issued to all groups of people, including drunkards, priests, and farmers. The nation’s sin had stained their daily offerings, dishonored God, and resulted in mere ritualistic observances that He detested. Once again, Judah’s gracious and compassionate God warned His people of coming judgment and gave them an opportunity to repent. The day of the Lord was near, but deliverance was still possible.

How should I respond?

The purpose of a hotel wake-up call is to get the guest moving so he doesn’t miss a flight or appointment. A similar thing happens in your Christian life. Daily challenges can distract you from responding to God’s wake-up calls through the promptings of His Spirit within you. As a result, you lose awareness of His working in your life and miss the incredible blessing of cooperating with Him in His plan. Neglecting your relationship with the Lord will leave you with an indifferent heart that has nothing to give. Has God tried to get your attention? How will you respond to your wake-up call?