Joel Chapter 1 – part 2 of 10

“The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.” What is God saying? “Hear this – hear this – hear this.” “And give ear,” or pay attention to this. Listen so as to hearken. If what follows is of little relevance to us, why should we be so commanded? It surely must be important, if God so calls on us to give ear to it. But it is addressed to “old men,” is it not? No, it is for all the inhabitants of the land, and the elders in particular. The word of the Lord to the elders is, “Hear this”; and the word of the Lord to every other inhabitant is, “Give ear.” Who then is left out? None! Therefore hear God – so as to pay earnest heed. Joel’s book is not long. God knows our attention span is short, therefore He has kept His word short, that we might the more easily comply with the instructions. He led His early apostles this way – then let not us veer from it. But perhaps He is speaking only to ancient Israel, or perhaps to the first apostles only? Verse three would enlighten us on that point. “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.” It is for each generation in turn, is it not? Now if we be the children of Abraham by faith, then it is instructing us, is it not? So none is left out, you see. Whatever it is we are to learn from Joel, these opening verses make it clear that even today, in our generation, all those who profess to have the faith of our fathers should pay attention to this. Old and young, let all hear. The elders, and the saints likewise. The apostles of the early church, and the disciples of Jesus in every generation. Peter paid attention from day one, as it were, and we are not some other group. but like-minded as the apostles. Therefore we stress from the outset the relevance – nay, the importance – of the word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. If the chief of the apostles found it so important that he based his preaching and teaching on it, we are surely not so conceited as to think we do not need it, want it, or desire it today.