What is the Day of the Lord?

One of the most interesting things about reading through and studying the Minor Prophets is trying to figure out what message God is trying to send us through these prophets. I've come to realize that the message depends upon who we are... You see, there are three groups of people. The first group, represented in scripture by "the nations", are those who unapologetically reject God. God's message to them is clear - repent or perish. The second group, represented by the prophets and those referred to as "the remnant", are those who wholeheartedly devote themselves to God. God's message to them is one of hope - that God is in control and will bring about those things he has promised. The third group, however, are those who are only playing at being Godly. They are not really devoted to God except by name or claim. They are pretending to be Godly. For the majority, Israel (Both the Northern Kingdom of Samaria and the Southern Kingdom of Judah) represented this group. Unfortunately, this group doesn't really exist. You cannot stay in this group indefinitely. Either you continue to ignore God's pleas to surrender completely to him - as did the Northern Kingdom of Samaria - and are judged by God the same as the nations... or you repent - as the Southern Kingdom of Judah eventually did after going into exile - and are ultimately restored. The point is... this third group of people doesn't exist. You cannot remain a "nominal Christian". You must either totally devote yourself to God and have the blessings and the hopes of God's ultimate peace... or you totally reject God and be judged along with the nations.

The message of Joel is that God will intervene in history in whatever way he deems necessary in order to ensure that this process takes place. Joel calls this sovereign work of God "The Day of Lord". It is not a single event in either history or the future. It is God's plan for all humanity.

The Day of the Lord is Today...

To hear more, listen to this weeks sermon on Joel
The Day of the Lord
http://www.box.net/shared/smypimmhhd