The Lord Saves! Joel 2:23-32

And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the Lord calls. Joel 2:32


The book of Joel is a powerful book, a fearful book, a book of judgement, a book of grace and mercy, a violent book, a book of triumph, a book of struggle and pain and a book of warning and assurance.  The crowning statement and truth from the book is this; "and everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."  

Judah was facing great hardship and destruction because of her enemies and when you read the opening verses of the book you don't find any comfort.  Actually Joel the prophet seems to be speaking to a people of terrible trouble and anguish of heart telling them that things would only get worse as the Day of the Lord approached.   What is the day of the Lord?  Was it something just around the corner?  Did Judah ever face the Day of the Lord or is the Day of the Lord still in the future?  That has been debated by many scholars much smarter than I am so I really don't want to get into that debate in my blog for today but I do want to look at the heart of God and we surely see the heart of God crying out loudly in the book of Joel.  

Israels enemies have concored them and will devastate them even more, so Joel warns them to be prepared.  He tells them to wail, weep and mourn and he tells them to return to the Lord!  Joel understands that turning to the Lord is there only hope.  Actually from the entire book we can see that God is ultimately in control over everything that has and will happen.   We may not fully understand the bad stuff but we can trust that the only hope for restoration and blessing are in His hands.

And hope starts the moment we fall on our knees in humble repentance.  

God tells Joel to call the people to gather in a great Sacred assembly and call upon the Lord with fasting and prayer.  (Joel 2:12-17)  Such passionate prayer by the leaders and common people would reach to the heavens.   2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us, "If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." NKJV 

Not only would these types of prayers be heard but God would respond to them.   Indeed all who call upon the Lord will be saved.   When the Bible uses the word saved it speaks of physical, emotional, and yes Spiritual salvation.  A salvation that we have now and into eternity.

Indeed during this time of Lent we celebrate that we have a Savior who is with us.  We have a Savior and Redeemer who forgives our sins and restores us from our hardship.  In Lent we reflect upon our Savior Jesus Christ.

I just love what Joel says in chapter two about the extent of Gods blessing and abundance that he will give.  In verse 24 it says.  The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with ne wine and oil.  Then in verse 25a he says,  "I will repay you for the years the locust have eaten.."

Prayer:  The hardships and locust of our day have eaten away and destroyed so much in our lives.  We call upon your name today and are thankful that you sustain us, save us and out of your mercy and love you restore us.   Thank you for your salvation.