For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Joel 1
“…human joy has dried up” (Joel 1:12b). What a statement! And what an important concept for us to understand. God is the only source of everlasting joy. Anything else in which we seek fulfillment is the human way and will ultimately dry up. Even God’s creation, as good as it is, is not our source of joy. In fact, creation suffers the consequences of our human nature right along with us. “How the animals groan! The herds of cattle wander in confusion since they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep and goats suffer punishment.” (Joel 1:18). It is when we truly learn this lesson, either through seeking God’s wisdom or through difficult personal experience, that we lay our ways aside and turn to God.
Joel 2
In Joel 2 there is a call for repentance in the face of God’s looming judgment. His judgment is scary, for sure, but His character is good. So return to Him because, “Who know? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him” (Joel 2:14a). Joel then records God’s response and His promise to step in and spare His people. One verse in particular in that response caught my attention.
“Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the LORD your God, because He gives you the autumn rain for your vindication.” (Joel 2:23a). This is apparently a metaphor for restoration, because we know it wasn’t just the land that was dead and unproductive. The people’s hearts were the real issue. Interestingly, some translations, including the CSB, note an alternate translation for the second part of this statement. Instead of autumn rains and vindication it states, “…because He gives you the teacher of righteousness for your righteousness.” Beautiful! What the autumn rains do for the devastated land we saw in Joel 1, Jesus, God’s righteous teacher, does for us. God does indeed relent and leave a blessing behind!
Joel 3
Having just read the end of Ezekiel, the latter part of Joel 3:18 caught my eye. “…and a spring will issue from the LORD’s house…”. That sounds like the river of life that started in God’s new temple, flowing out into the land, growing and giving life as it went. God’s prophecies through the various prophets are connected because they all tell the same story.