In the first chapter of the Book of Joel, Joel asserts that his prophecies will be fulfilled in this day and generation. Though Joel makes a despairing appeal to the ecclesiastical leaders of our day to repent and intercede with God – Yehovah for Israel, he records their failure to listen. The prophet then calls upon God - Yehovah for help. Likewise, the failure of the ministers and the priests to warn the people of the coming of the Great Day of Yehovah finds the nation wholly unprepared for the events that will follow.
The opening scene of the second chapter begins
with the blowing of the trumpet in Zion: “Blow you the trumpet in Zion,
and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land
tremble” (Joel 2:1). The Hebrew word “shofar” translated “trumpet” is used in
the Old Testament when this instrument was to be blown to warn the people of
war, or to gather them to the solemn assembly. Joel does not use it here to
indicate a peaceful gathering, but he speaks of it as a shout of warning to
arouse His Kingdom (His Holy Mountain) Israel. The inhabitants of the land are
told to tremble, or, as the Hebrew word ragaz means “be angry and troubled”.
This alarm is sounded in Zion. Do not confuse Zion with Jerusalem. The former
means fortress; the latter “possession of peace”. Zion is the place of defence,
the place where Yehovah has set His name, the seat of the
government and legal activities of His Nation Israel. “Yet have I set my king
upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psalm 2:6).
Jerusalem represents the ecclesiastical
activities. In vain has Joel appealed to the ecclesiastical leaders, while they
still had the power, to intercede with God –
Yehovah for
His people in order to avert the disaster. Peace having passed away, the
conditions are now beyond the control of the ministers and priests. It is too
late for them to act and have God – Yehovah turn aside the
troubles. The call to arms is heard in Israel. Zion, the fortress, the
stronghold of Israel, is aroused. Throughout the whole nation, His Holy
Mountain, the people are angry and troubled.
Joel states the Day of Yehovah is about to begin, its turmoil is near, and the people are
unprepared. Briefly, he describes this day as a time of darkness and gloom,
like a day of clouds and thick darkness. Jeremiah, prophesying of this same
period, refers to it as a time of fear, not of peace, when a voice of trembling
is heard. Zephaniah calls it a day of wrath, trouble, and distress; a
day of destruction and desolation; a day of war and slaughter;
a time when gold and silver will be worthless to deliver a man from his
troubles.
Ezekiel also refers to this day as a time of
great distress and perplexity. James says the rich will howl for the misery
that will come upon them.
Jesus said, “For as a snare shall it come on
all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” The people behold a period
confronting them which has not been ever since
the beginning of the world to this same time, or ever shall be again, and the
nation is suddenly aroused from her spiritual apathy.
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