Corona Devo 3068
Do you like riddles?
Here's one: When is a locust not a locust?
The prophet named Joel, in the Bible, opens the first chapter of his book talking about locusts. And he is speaking of actual locusts. (Some scholars ascertain that the locusts he mentions represent other nations that have come against Israel.) But most Biblical scholars agree (and the Bible says!) that Joel is really speaking about actual locusts.
The locusts, they came and attacked the field. Then, the locusts, they came and cleaned out what was left in the field. And then the locusts, they came back and left total decimation in the fields, and then the locusts, they came once more and stripped it all again.
In all your history, has anything like this happened before? (3) Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.
(4) After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops, the swarming locusts took what was left! After them came the hopping locusts, and then the stripping locusts, too! ~Joel 1:1-4
This decimation from the locusts not only stripped the crops from Israel, but (worse), the locusts left no wine or wheat for temple sacrifices to the Lord, which left no way for the people to honor God.
Weep like a bride dressed in black, mourning the death of her husband. (9) For there is no grain or wine to offer at the Temple of the Lord. So the priests are in mourning. The ministers of the Lord are weeping.
(10) The fields are ruined, the land is stripped bare. The grain is destroyed, the grapes have shriveled, and the olive oil is gone.
(11) Despair, all you farmers! Wail, all you vine growers! Weep, because the wheat and barley—all the crops of the field—are ruined. (12) The grapevines have dried up, and the fig trees have withered. The pomegranate trees, palm trees, and apple trees—all the fruit trees—have dried up. And the people’s joy has dried up with them. ~Joel 1:8-12
It was a dire time. Joel was talking about the locusts and the damage they had done....and it was a lot.
~~~
But when is a locust, not a locust?
--
Joel was a prophet. Prophets were appointed by God to share His truth (and consequences) with God's people...and Joel did.
He was talking about locusts that had eaten them out of field and temple sacrifices, but Joel (also) saw beyond that momentary lack and need. He was also speaking to you and me today.
The message of Joel was prophetic. He was a prophet and he was warning us of the coming day of the Lord and the coming judgment of the Lord (for those who do not know Him).
We (a sinful people before our holy God) will face a day of judgment. The destruction and the reality-of-loss will be as real as a locust-stripped field.
After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops, the swarming locusts took what was left! After them came the hopping locusts, and then the stripping locusts, too! ~Joel 1:4
Joel is telling us to wake up today, before the time of soul-harvest comes from the Lord.
Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you wine-drinkers! All the grapes are ruined, and all your sweet wine is gone. (6) A vast army of locusts has invaded my land, a terrible army too numerous to count. ~Joel 1:5-6
Joel is telling us to mourn our sin and waywardness from God...and turn from it. Our spiritual crops are ruined by our disobedience to the Lord and His righteous ways and Word.
Joel says, "weep" and "despair", or else we (at judgment) will be the fields that lay bare:
Weep like a bride dressed in black, mourning the death of her husband....
(10) The fields are ruined, the land is stripped bare...
(11) Despair, all you farmers! Wail, all you vine growers! Weep, because the wheat and barley—all the crops of the field—are ruined. (12) ...And the people’s joy has dried up with them. ~Joel 1:8, 10-12
~~~
The people of Israel had gotten hit with locusts and it cleared out their crops and even their sacrifices to the Lord. But our sin and waywardness has hit generation after generation, and in deteriorating ways, it has cleared out our holiness, and even our pursuit of holiness before the Lord.
And Joel is telling us to turn from our sin, and to turn to God before the time of soul-harvest comes from the Lord.
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (13) Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
(14) Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God. ~Joel 2:12-14
Spiritual devastation has occurred in our world, in our cultures...in us. Much of our righteousness has been stripped, but God's righteousness always allows for hope and always provides mercy on those seeking Him.
Let's seek Him today.
The locusts of life may have almost stripped us bare, but we still have time and we still have a God who loves us and redeems us.
~~~
When is a locust not a locust?
When the Lord repays His children for the years the locusts have eaten.
This is God's redemption for our repentance. It's nowhere near a fair-trade, but our Lord is extravagant in His love and mercy of His children.
The locusts have come, yes. And the locusts have done much damage, yes.
But...
Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. (19) The Lord replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully... (20) ...Surely he has done great things!
(21) Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things!
(22) Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. (23) Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful.
He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
(24) The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
(25) “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.
(26) You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.
(27) Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other... ~Joel 2:18-27
When is a locust not a locust?
When it is literal (as in Joel's day) and when it is figurative, as in ours. And when it is prophetic for every generation until the day of the Lord comes.
When is a locust not a locust? When it is actually a love-letter to us from the Lord, encouraging us to return to Him while we have time.
Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. ~Joel 2:13
Blessings,
Comments
Post a Comment