Joel 2:23-32; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Last week we heard in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 about what Paul says that Jesus asks of us – that we preach the word and be prepared to correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience. He said that the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine but only follow their own desires.
This week Paul further encourages us through his own example to keep the faith and continue the fight. He talks about how when no one came to his defense, and everyone deserted him, the Lord continued to stand at his side and give him strength. Keep the faith – continue the fight. But how to do this? First, know what your faith is. That might sound odd, but for myself, early on I’m not sure I could articulate what I believed. Study, ask questions. And then, share. Share that with each other. This is a safe space with like-minded people. Practice on us. Then go out and share with others outside of here.
Sometimes sharing the good news can be without words, but through actions. Jesus told us to feed the hungry and clothe the poor, be kind to the widow, orphan, and stranger. Do those things and sometimes use words. Keep going and ignore the bumps in the road. Believe that you will get the message across even if it doesn’t look like anyone is listening.
Paul was pretty straight forward in his instructions to us, but Joel is a little harder to approach. Joel is mystical. His is the second book of the 12 prophetic books of the Old Testament and there is no real indication of when it was written, but it is estimated to be during the period of Ezra and Nehemiah, after the return from exile, around 400 BC. He quotes from the other prophets, but he never really specifies what the sin is that led to the punishment of God’s people by the plague of locusts. His main point is to call upon believers to lead others in repentance and prayer. Joel says that if we persevere in sharing the love of God, God will repay us. If we stop sharing our knowledge of the love of God, who will help those who are still wandering lost in the world of myths and self-indulgence? We must plant the seeds of belief in God, not so we can “count coup,” and feel self-satisfied about bringing another person to Christ; but by planting the seed and nurturing those that have been planted by others before us. Hardly anyone comes to Christ the very first time they hear the good news.
I’m sure that each one of us experienced an introduction, or planting of a seed, at some time in our lives. Perhaps a parent, friend, or minister began us on our journey with Jesus. In my case, I remember two people clearly did that for me. First, my grandmother, Minnie. She and my grandpa, Fred, lived with us winters when I was little. Every day after school I would get home and get a snack and go to my grammy’s room. She’d close the door, and she’d tell me stories from the Bible. I’m not sure I even differentiated Bible stories from stories from other sources, except that my grammy said these ones were true.
A couple years later I remember when Pastor Ennis Coale came to serve this church. He and his wife, I think her name was Hope, had been missionaries in Africa and told wonderful stories about the work they did there and the people they had met. They were very important in my growth as a Christian.
Unfortunately, I fell away from the church for quite a few years, but when I came back those early lessons and experiences developed into a faith that continues to grow.
Back to Joel… the first half of the book talks about an ancient locust plague that lasted several years. Imagine the devastation, starvation, and death. People were exhorted to fast, pray, and repent. Fasting probably wasn’t a problem – there wasn’t enough food anyways. Joel elaborates on repentance in 2:13, saying, “Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to your God. God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, full of love.” He had quoted from Exodus 34:6 when God forgave Israel for worshipping the Golden Calf.
There are some clear parallels between Joel’s world, Paul’s world, and ours. Joel talks about the sins of the people of Zion. Paul talks about the time to come, “when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” This appears to have come to pass and has caused the kind of devastation that Joel conveys. There may not be actual locusts, but there are certainly circumstances, individuals, and policies that cause fear for our own security. Food insufficiency is a real problem for at least 47 million people in the US alone. Across the world, 831 million people live in extreme poverty, living on under $3 a day. Much of the funding to aid organizations has been eliminated or dramatically cut. Even among us there is an underlying fear that what little security, joy, and satisfaction that we cling to might be snatched away in an instant. We support leaders who promise to sustain our lifestyles, but have we lost faith in a Lord who will provide? In spite of what Jesus says in Matthew 6:25-34? “I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? … do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Joel makes clear that promised abundance is still on the way. The foolishness of faith will be repaid by God. No matter how little we have we can help another.
Joel paints a picture of hope for all sinners. He describes how human sin and failure wreak such destruction on our world. And then he also describes how God longs to show mercy to those who will repent and confess their sin. One day God will defeat evil, both in our world and within ourselves. In the meantime, keep the faith, and fight the fight. Spread the good news in any way that you can. God will repay you with grace and mercy.
Susan Maurer, lay member
