Apr 23, 2023
Scripture Reading: Joel 2:21-32
Like other prophets, the little book of Joel has a prophecy of a coming judgment on Israel and a prophecy of a coming restoration of Israel. With reference to this judgment, repeatedly Joel uses a phrase familiar to Old Testament prophets … namely, "the day of the LORD" (Joel 1:15; 2:1,11,31; 3:14) or simply the "day" (Joel 1:15; 2:2; 3:18).
The day of the LORD is a time of darkness and destruction. "For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?" (Joel 2:11). The fulfillment of this prophecy has both a near time frame and a distant time frame. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. was a precursor to a massive and gloomy judgment of Israel in the great tribulation to come.
Likewise, the restoration of Israel from Babylon foreshadows a grand restoration of Israel in the millennial kingdom. This restoration will be the result of God pouring out His Spirit in fuller ways than He has in human history.
The inauguration of this fuller manifestation of the Holy Spirit took place on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, where Peter quoted Joel 2, pointing to the beginning of the "last days."
What a privilege and blessing we have to be living during the time when the Holy Spirit has been given to the human race in greater measure than He was in Old Testament times. And what comfort is afforded to us to know, more fully than Old Testament saints, the unfolding of God's plan in the exaltation of His Son through the coming of the Holy Spirit in a greater manifestation of His presence and power.