The Day of the Lord – The Call to Repent

The Book of Joel

Joel 2.1-17

Introduction
Today we come the second sermon of a five-part series on the book of Joel. Little is known
about the Prophet Joel or the exact date this small prophetic book was written. Some have
concluded that the lack of information about this book is divinely intentional so that God’s
people throughout the ages will apply the five biblical truths gleaned from this little book.
Last week we looked at chapter one where the Prophet describes a locust invasion, unlike
anything the people had ever experienced. The locust had gnawed their way through all the
vegetation causing a complete and utter devastation to the crops, the trees, and the land.
Everyone had been affected, from least to the greatest. No one was exempt from the
suffering. The Prophet describes this infestation of locust like an army marching through
the land writing, “For a nation has come up against my land, powerful and beyond number.”
(1.6a)
The locust invasion had gone on for too long and the people had lost hope. There was
nothing to enjoy. Nothing to look forward to. Nothing the thank God for. Nothing the eat or
drink. Therefore, gladness died up from the children of man. (12b) So, the Lord calls the
people to change their sadness to godly lament and cry out to God to act on their behalf.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, the Psalmist laments, and cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears.
(Ps.18.6) Only God’s Word can restore the soul and bring rejoicing to the heart. (Ps.19.7-8)
So, God calls us to pray His Word back to Him as we cry for help. Therefore, the first lesson
we learn for the book of Joel is when sadness goes on for too long God’s people are to
lament for God to act.
Now that Joel has called us back to God’s Word, he uses the current locust invasion as a
backdrop to warn of a future eschatological day of the Lord, when the Son of Man returns in
His glory with all His holy angels with Him at the end of the age. (Mt.26.31)

Our text this morning provides a transition from the historical plague of locust (particular
significance) to the future day of the Lord (prophetic significance) and calls the lamenting
people to repent. Basically, the Prophet is saying, “If you think you are helpless against an
insect only three inches long, how helpless do you think you will be when you stand before
the Almighty God Himself on that great day.”

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Hear now the Word of God. Joel chapter two verses one through seventeen:
1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of
the land tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Surely it is near, 2 a day of darkness and
gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, so there
is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again
after it to the years of many generations. 3 A fire consumes before them and behind them a
flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them but a desolate wilderness behind
them, and nothing at all escapes them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses;
And like war horses, so they run. 5 With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the
mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, like a mighty people
arranged for battle. 6 Before them the people are in anguish; All faces turn pale. 7 They run like
mighty men, they climb the wall like soldiers; And they each march in line, Nor do they deviate
from their paths. 8 They do not crowd each other, They march everyone in his path;
When they burst through the defenses, they do not break ranks. 9 They rush on the city, they
run on the wall; They climb into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.
10 Before them the earthquakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and the moon grow dark
And the stars lose their brightness. 11 The Lord utters His voice before His army; Surely His
camp is very great, for strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the Lord is indeed
great and very awesome, and who can endure it? 12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return
to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; 13 And rend your heart and
not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil. 14 Who knows whether He
will not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, even a grain offering and a drink
offering for the Lord your God? 15 Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn
assembly, 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the
children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out
of her bridal chamber. 17 Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, Weep between the porch and the
altar, and let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not make Your inheritance
a reproach, A byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, ‘Where is
their God?’” (2.1-17)
The Day of the Lord
Like a prophetic Paul Revere, Joel begins chapter two by telling his readers to “Blow a
trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land
tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Surely it is near.” (2.1) The Prophet mentioned
day of the Lord in chapter one where in verse fifteen he says, “Alas for the day! For the day
of the Lord is near. And it will come as destruction from the Almighty.” (1.15) As the people
were lamenting to God for disaster left behind by the invasion of the locust, Joel announces
the coming of the day of the Lord. This phrase, “it will come as destruction from the
Almighty,” reminds me of what the Apostle Peter told us saying, But the day of the Lord will
come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be
destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2Pt.3.10)

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Just like the locust invasion was like nothing the people had ever experienced (1.2b) so
there has never been anything like the day of the Lord nor will there be again after it to the
years of many generations. (2.2b) The day of the Lord will make the locust invasion look like
an elementary school flag football game compared to the Super Bowl.
Joel uses vivid depictions from the locust invasion, imagines the people were very familiar
with by now, to describe the day of the Lord. Just as the sun was blocked by the locust
flying into the land, so the day of the Lord will be a day of darkness and gloom, a day of
clouds and thick darkness. (2.2a) On that day the earth will quake, and the heavens will
tremble, the sun and the moon will grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. (vs.10)
Just like the locust were like an army marching through the land so Joel speaks of a great
and mighty people (2a) riding on war horses and chariots. (4-5a) This army is organized for
battle marching in lined ranks of disciplined warriors who will not deviate or break rank.
(vs.8) As this army attacks their cities and villages the soldiers will run on the walls, climb
into their homes, and enter their houses like thieves. (vs.7) Their attack will be complete,
and nothing will escape their path. (3d)
Just like the fire burned up all the trees of the field after the locust invasion so fire will
sweep across the land on the day of the Lord burning everything in front of it and leaving
nothing behind it. (vs.5b, 3a) The destruction on that day will be so devastating that it
could be said that the land was like the Garden of Eden before it and a desolate wilderness
after it. (vs.3b)
But of all this vivid language doesn’t prepare the people with what Joel will tell them next.
Joel gives them the most shocking detail of all, explaining is that the Commander of this
coming invasion is Lord Himself! The Lord utters His voice before His army; Surely His camp
is very great, for strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the Lord is indeed great and
very awesome, and who can endure it? (2.11) The people in Joel’s day would have expected
the Syrians to invade or maybe the Babylonians but “The Lord?” this would have been
shocking!
A Call to Repent
So, the Lord issues a call to repent. “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all
your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your
garments.” (2.12-13a) You see, in the same way Joel challenges his readers, and us by the
Spirit, to use the locust invasion as an opportunity to lament, so Joel challenges his readers,
and us by God’s providence, to use the impending Day of the Lord as an opportunity to
humble ourselves before the God and repent.
You see godly lament leads to repentance. Godly lament is identified by the call to “fasting,
weeping and mourning.” True repentance is identified by “rend your heart and not your
garments.” Godly lament leads to true repentance. This call was an opportunity for them to
return to the Lord your God. (13.b)

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Remember that one of interesting facts about the book of Joel is that no sin is mentioned.
We see that the Lord is not referring to a particular sin when He calls them to repent. No,
He is referring to an attitude of the heart of repentance. Repentance is not just confessing
and turning away from sin unto God, but it is also a heart of repentance that endeavors by
the Spirit to walk in a new obedience. (WSC#87) King David tells us that God desires for us
to have this heart of repentance more than a lifetime of sacrifices. For You do not delight in
sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of
God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. (Ps.51.16-
17)
Joel now gives five reasons why we should repent. For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil. (2.13c) People repent when
they see how gracious, and compassionate, and patient, and loving, and concerning our God
really is. Ultimately, it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. (Rom.2.4)
Joel is pleading with us to use the impending day of the Lord as an opportunity to get our
heart right with God. Joel is pleading with us not to act like those who hear about the
coming of the day of the Lord insisting that everything will always be like it is and that this
day of the Lord stuff is nonsense. Joel is pleading with us not to act like those who hear
about the day of the Lord and only whitewash their life with exterior remedies. Joel is
pleading with us to act like a true believer, who when he hears about the day of the Lord
has godly sorrow, turns away from the world, and rips his heart open to God. For it is only
those who experience this “poverty of spirit” (Mt.5.3) that will enjoy the kingdom of
heaven.
Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the
people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing
infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber.
(2.15-16) From the oldest to the youngest, everyone is to assemble for this solemn
assembly. Everything else can wait. Nothing should hinder us from coming. Even if it’s your
wedding day you should attend.
And with all the people gathered Joel calls for the priests, the LORD’S ministers, weep between
the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your
inheritance a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say,
‘Where is their God?’” (vs.17) Let me explain that the imagery that Joel is describing and as I
do I hope you can see the beautiful depiction of the Gospel. The priests were the people’s
representative to God. And on this solemn day the priests would make their way from the
altar to the porch leading to the Holy Place which would lead to the entrance into the Holy
of Holies, the symbol of God’s throne.

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As the priest approached the entrance, he knew that he has no right to gain access into
God’s holy presence and he definitely knows that he is not worthy to represent the people
before God. So, as he stands on the porch he begins to weep. He cries out to the Lord, “Spare
Your people, O Lord, and do not make Your inheritance a reproach, a byword among the
nations. Why should they among the peoples say, ‘Where is their God?’” (vs.17) Here we see
the priest interceding for the people asking God to save His people from the impending day
of judgment, the day of the Lord.
The Gospel
Brothers and sisters, our confidence is not in some earthly priest but rather the Great High
Priest the Lord Jesus Christ who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and
exalted above the heavens. (Heb.7.26) For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands,
a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
(Heb.9.24) As Christ walked from the heavenly porch into the holy place, He presents
Himself as a grain offering to the Father by laying down His life. (Joel 2.14c; Jn.12.23-24) As
Christ walked from the heavenly porch into the holy place, He poured Himself out as a
drink offering to the Father to provide the forgiveness of sin. (Joel 2.14c; Mt.26.28) As
Christ walked from the heavenly porch into the holy place, He made intercession to the
Father saying, “Spare Your people, O Lord.” And the Father seeing the One who offered up
Himself taking the reproach that should have fallen on us (Rom.15.3) “relents” and instead
of bringing flames of judgment He leaves behind a blessing for His people (2.14b) –
preservation in the day of the Lord through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers and
sisters, our great high priest our Lord Jesus Christ is able to save forever those who draw
near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb.7.25)
I realize that the Day of the Lord is not a popular topic for our day. People would rather
hear about things that tickle their ears and focus on their desires. (2 Tim.4.3) People want
to hear about how things are going to get better and better so that they might enjoy more
and more prosperity. We know that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning and His
faithfulness is great (Lam.3.22-23), but we also know that there will be a day when the sun
will be darkened; the moon will not give its light. On that day the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the Son of Man will appear in the
sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON
THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. (Mt.24.29-30) The Bible tells us to
remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets, which includes Joel.
(2Pet.3.1-13) We should expect that there will be mockers who say, “Where is the promise
of His coming?” These mockers will point to the fact that from the beginning of time until
now it seems like everything continues just as it was. But it escapes their notice that the
Bible teaches that the earth was originally formed out of water and by water, and that the
world was destroyed by water during the great flood in Noah’s day. It also escapes their
notice that the flood brought a change in the earth’s atmosphere so that now the earth
could be destroyed by fire. And even though we might not like to talk about it, the Bible
teaches that there will be a day when the Lord will come like a thief in the night and the
heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements of creation will be destroyed with intense
heat, and the earth will be burned up.

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But it should also not escape your notice that the Lord is not slow, as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
And this was the same message the Lord preached through the Prophet Joel centuries ago
saying, “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting,
weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.” (2.12-13) Joel is
pleading with the people of his day as I am pleading with you today to use the impending
day of the Lord as an opportunity to get our hearts right with God.
Closing Thought
As I close this morning, I want you to see that Joel asks a question in verse eleven, “The day
of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, and who can endure it?” Well, I’m here today
to tell you that Christ did! The Lord Jesus took the full impact of God’s judgment upon
Himself on our behalf. The Lord was pleased to crush Him putting Him to grief. As a result
of the anguish of His soul the Father saw it and was satisfied. (Is.53.10-11) The Bible tells
us that for the joy set before Him, Christ endured hostility by sinners against Himself and
endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.
The day of the Lord is near, and the Lord has given you the opportunity to repent and
believe in the good news of Jesus Christ. Surrender your life today. Repent and believe!