Joel 2:11

Joel 2:11 says, And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? While God's people were looking to powerful armies for their protection, God was using an army of insects to destroy all their works.  God does not need the strongest and most powerful people to accomplish His will.  He has everything in the universe at His disposal.  Verse twelve adds, Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:  Here, we are told why this judgment was coming to Judah.  God was calling on His people to return to Him.  The destruction was not due to God's anger, but instead due to His love for His people.  Material things had come between God and Judah, and God was removing the material things.  If we are God's today, we can be certain that anything that comes between God and us will ultimately be totally destroyed.  Verse thirteen continues, And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  Outward signs of repentance without any real remorse were not enough.  The people of Judah were told to rend their hearts, to be truly heartbroken because of their sins. We today, if we are outside of the will of God, should be heartbroken. Our gracious God waits in mercy to restore us.  God does not desire that people be destroyed but that they be reconciled to Him.  We need to understand that destruction, or everlasting separation from God, is our choice and not God's.  Verse fourteen states, Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?  Even with destruction all around, there was no assurance that the people of Judah would repent and begin to truly worship God again.  Verse fifteen adds, Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:  The people of Judah were called on to loudly and publicly worship God.  They were to fast and have a solemn assembly.  When we are not following God's will, we need to return to God publicly and let the world know that we have.  Verse sixteen continues, Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.  This is a continuation of the call for God's people to gather together and worship Him. Nothing could be more important.  This is still the case today.  We, as God's people, must put Him first and let the world know that we do. Verse seventeen says, Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?  This is addressed to the religious leaders.  The religious leaders were called on to be broken hearted for allowing the world to dishonor God because of the rebellion of His people, especially the religious leaders.  Those who serve God today need to be just as broken hearted if we bring dishonor to God.  Verse eighteen adds, Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.  God awaits to restore us, if we return to Him in true repentance.