Joel: Tear Your Hearts, Not Your Garments

"And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls." Joel 2:32

When's the last time you cracked open the book of Joel? Did you even know that it was a book in the Bible? Or did you think it was just the name of one of your friends? So often when it comes to the minor prophets, we simply forget that they exist. Even if we do remember that they exist, we (at least with our actions) consider them less inspired than the rest of scripture. Who wants to read Joel and Habakkuk when we could read Matthew or Romans? Yet let us remember this morning that all scripture is God-breathed (according to Paul and the Holy Spirit, at least). And thus, we need Joel just as much as we need Matthew and Romans.

But why is this so? Well, this morning I'd like to show you how the book of Joel is unique, just as every book of scripture is unique. Do all of the books of scripture go together in beautiful harmony? Certainly, for they all have the same author! But if we take time to dive into each select book, we find great beauty in the diversity of the biblical books as well. Like a great orchestra, we take great delight in the sound of all of the biblical books together, yet how wonderful it is to turn our ear intentionally to the majestic flute of Joel or the harp of Habakkuk!

The book of Joel, I believe, was written during the time of the exile. There are many different opinions on when the book of Joel was written, but I believe this timestamp makes the most sense (for lack of space and time in my morning, I'm going to refrain from stating why this is so, but feel free to call or text me if you're truly interested). Joel wrote to the Israelites in order to encourage them in their exile by both reminding them of how God had brought judgment upon them (chapter 1), showing them how God will ultimately judge them again (2:1-22), but how the LORD will forgive (2:12-23-32) and restore (3:17-21) those who "call on the name of the LORD." Simultaneously, God will judge those who refuse to call upon him (3:1-16).

Though there are many questions we could ask when observing the book of Joel, the main point of the book is this: God is coming again to judge, just like he came to judge Israel in the past, and only those who call upon the name of the LORD will be saved from his wrath. Thus, Israel (as well as you and me) ought to repent from our sin and call upon the LORD lest we be destroyed. If we refuse to "rend our hearts" and merely "rend our garments," we will be judged (see Joel 2:13). What is meant by the preceding phrase is this: those who merely follow God's law externally (like the Pharisees) will not be saved from God's wrath. To truly be saved is to circumcise your heart (which only God can do as you call upon his name), not merely your flesh (cf. Deuteronomy 10:12-17, Romans 2:25-29).

Thus, in application today, let us ask ourselves: have we called upon the name of the LORD? If one has not, the wrath of God abides upon him, and he will not be saved from the great trial. God will judge the man who tries to save himself. Yet if our answer to this question is yes, then what great hope do we have! For even when the sun and moon are darkened and when the earth quakes--when the end times come (Joel 2:30-32)--God will deliver us from his wrath. Praise the LORD! He has given hope to all those who call upon his name, and this is the message of the great prophet Joel.