Joel 1:1-3:21
We closed the Old Testament with two prophets, Malachi and Joel, both
of which spoke of events regarding the arrival of the promised Messiah. With
prophecies regarding Christ, there are typically two fulfillments, one that is
partial in His first appearance and another that is complete at His second
coming. This truth confused the Jews and it can still be confusing to us.
However, we have more information than they did, regarding Jesus’ purposes and
plan, and, thus, we can discern the two advents in these prophecies.
For example, the Lord told Malachi, “Look! I am sending My messenger
and he will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord you are seeking will
suddenly come to His Temple. The Messenger of the covenant (Messiah), whom you
look for so eagerly, is surely coming. But who will be able to endure it when
He comes? Who will be able to stand and face Him? For He will be like a blazing
fire that refines metal...” (3:1, 2). He continued, “Look, I am sending you the
prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord arrives...” (4:5).
It was protocol in those days for kings to send a messenger ahead of
them before their arrival, so that people would be ready to receive them. Thus,
for the Messiah to do the same made sense to God’s people. The Jews knew to be
looking for one whose “voice was crying out in the wilderness” to prepare the
way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3). However, since there are two ad- vents of Christ, there will be two
messengers to go before Him. The New Testament identifies John the Baptist as
the first messenger (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:2; Luke 1:17; John 1:23). The messenger to
announce the second coming is Elijah the prophet. Elijah appears with Jesus at
the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:14) and could be one of the two witnesses mentioned
in the end times (Revelation 11:1-3).
Another prophecy with a double fulfillment is that of the work
of the Holy Spirit. God told Joel, “I will pour out My Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your
young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out My Spirit even on
servants, men and women alike” (2:28, 29). Peter recognized the partial fulfillment of
this prophecy at Pentecost, when Christ’s followers were filled with the Spirit
(Acts
2:16-21).
However, this prophecy will be completely fulfilled when Christ establishes His
kingdom at the second coming. Thus, Joel provides signs for God’s people to
know when that will occur.
Daily Reflection
I love that the Old Testament ends the way that it does, with reminders
of the promise of the coming Messiah. The Lord was reminding His people that He would
make all things new and restore them to Himself. “I, the Lord, will live in
Zion, the holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy forever and armies will never
conquer her again... Judah will remain and Jerusalem will endure through all
generations. I will pardon My people’s crimes... and I will make My home in
Jerusalem with My people” (Joel 3:17-21).
How would you summarize the Old Testament? What excites you about the
New Testament?
BiAY.org | Day 266 — 99 Days to Go
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