Joel 2:16-18 - Then the Lord became jealous for the land

2:16,17

Everyone was called to partake in this fast, in this turning to the Lord. The young and old. Even a bridegroom was to take part, the fact of the wedding was no excuse for failing to attend this fast. Later we will read of the Holy Spirit being poured out on all flesh, but of equal importance is that all flesh repent and humble themselves before the Lord. The priests, instead of being servants of the state, are to be servants of God, then they will truly serve the people. They are to lead the people in humbling themselves before God. Note also that this is not just a matter of the people suffering less if they turn back to the Lord, it is also a matter of the Lord’s Name being honoured instead of mocked. In the West the name of the Lord is generally mocked. I don’t just mean when Christ is used as a swear word, but the general attitude towards the church and to God. Part of the reason for this is that the church as a whole has turned away from God.

2:18

“The the Lord was jealous for the land”. The Lord had tied His name to Israel (and still has!). Yet they had scorned Him and were worshipping other things. But the land belonged to the Lord, and the people’s rightful place was with the Lord, trusting in Him, following His ways. Similarly, our rightful place is that we trust the Lord. Whatever your circumstances, or my circumstances right now, the thing we should be doing is trusting the Lord. So often when we say things like that our emphasis or motivation is on us getting an “answer” if we do that. But there is a deeper, and greater reason, for doing that. It is the right thing to do, it is what we are meant to do.

In seeking to bring the people back the Lord is having pity, showing mercy. People sometimes object to God seeking to bring them back to His ways, but the worst thing that can happen to a man or woman is that God just lets us go our own way. That way lies disaster.