Thurs.’s Devo - Our Hope is in the Lord

Read: Joel 1:1-3:21; Revelation 1:1-20; Psalm 128:1-6: Proverbs 29:18 Joel saw four stages of locusts: (1) the gnawing locust; (2) the swarming locust; (3) the licking locust; and (4) the consuming locust. They were a progression with the last being the most destructive kind. The fourth is often three inches long, with two antennæ, each an inch long. It had six feet, the back two longer than the others so it could leap. The first “gnawing” locust, emerges from its egg in the spring, without wings. The second “swarming” locust evolves at the end of spring, when the locusts shed their skin again and bring forth little ones without legs or wings. The third, “licking” locust occurs when after their third shedding of their old skin. They get small wings, which enable them to leap better, but not fly. Once their wings are matured, they devour all before them, grass, shrubs, and the bark of trees. The fourth “consuming locust” is the matured winged locusts. In Joel 2:25 they are are mentioned in the reverse order, where the restoration of the devastations caused by them is promised. The first stage of the locust refer to Assyria and Babylon; the second to Medo-Persia; the third, to Greco-Macedonia and Antiochus Epiphanes, and the fourth, to the Romans. Each successive empires which attacked Judea were worse than its predecessor; Rome being the climax. Their devastation on the land would look like a plague of locusts came through. God called the people to mourn and repent for their sins. Their sins had been the cause of the devastation. It was time to fast and pray. Famine and war was coming. This vast army that marches through their land would leave nothing but destruction and devastation behind them. This army he is describing is God’s army and He is the leader of it. This was a picture of how it will be in the end on the “Day of the Lord.” God was giving them a chance to repent before it happened so maybe they could turn God’s heart. God is merciful and compassionate and will relent on his judgement if he sees repentant hearts. Joel called for a national day of repentance and fasting. He wanted everyone to stop their daily plans and repent and turn back to the Lord. If they did, God would turn the curse into a blessing for his people. God spoke of their future because he knew that one day they would repent and He would bless them once again and bring them back to their land. One day they would know Him as their Lord. God would pour on them his Spirit and they would prophesy and hear his voice. He was referring to the time when Jesus would walk the earth and bring salvation through his death. The Holy Spirit would be given at Pentecost and people would once again walk with God. Chapter three speaks of the day when God will call every nation to the Valley of Decision which will be Armageddon. There he will judge and fight every nation that came against his people. God will fight and win a victory over all his enemies and this will be the last battle. After the war, God’s people will return to Jerusalem and make their home there. Their sins will be pardoned forever and they will live with the Lord. This revelation was given to John of the events that would happen in the end of time. It came from the throne of God in heaven and was sent by a messenger to John. Jesus would return in the clouds and all would see him, even the ones who were his enemy and crucified him. John received this vision while exiled on the island of Patmos for preaching the truth about Jesus Christ. John was told to write what he saw in a book and send it to seven specific churches. These churches would mirror the ages to come. When John turned to see who was speaking he saw Jesus in all his glory. Jesus was standing among the lamp stand with seven stars in his right hand and a two-edged sword coming out of his mouth. John fell to the ground in awe and fear and Jesus touched him and told him not to be afraid. He was the one who held the keys to death and the grave. He told him to write down what he saw and then gave him a clue. The seven stars where the messengers of the seven churches and the seven lamp stands were the seven churches. Lord, may we repent as a nation. Thank you for showing us the future so that we will put our hope in You.