Today’s Lesson will be “politically incorrect,” I suppose.

And I’ll be the first to admit the thesis is not always 100% applicable in every situation. The man Job comes to mind, for example. There a follower of God endured crisis after crisis … none of which were due to overt, blatant sin in his life. He was a paragon of Righteousness, in fact.

That being said, the Text today is Joel 1:1-3.

And clearly something “bad” has happened in the Land, in Israel.

Nearly unprecedented, in fact. I guess you could term this reversal a “once-in-a-lifetime” tragedy.

“The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath THIS been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.” Again, Joel 1:1-3.

By the way, Joel’s Father is named “Pethuel,” meaning “God has opened (something).” This dramatic name is found only here in all the Bible! And the verb “opened” (as specifically used in this name) often carries pejorative overtones, various shades of impending judgment!

The old men are first addressed because they have the longest memories, have lived the greatest number of decades. And they too (in the culture of the Middle East) are the God-appointed “teachers” of their own children and Grandchildren, usually quite a numerous group of young people.

Word (news) should be relayed through the ages, of some event that has plagued the Land! Four generations anyway, I count. All the way to the great-grandchildren!

But what has happened?

An invasion!

This time (merely) by animals, insects!

Locusts, to be precise.

And the results are devastating!

And the cause?

Glance at verse 15 of this same chapter, Joel 1. “Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.”

God is the Author of this situation.

Why?

No doubt because of many sins, but only “drunkenness” is specifically mentioned! “Awake, ye DRUNKARDS, and weep; and howl, all ye DRINKERS OF WINE, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.” Joel 1:5

Today … anathema is pronounced on the man who even hints that … a Nation’s Hardships may be due to sin! He is censured in the Press, mocked in the streets, and often disgraced in his profession.

But he well may be “right on target.”

At least, Joel certainly was!

AMERICA, BEWARE!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Old Testament contains 39 Books of Scripture.

Near its end is a Collection called “The Book of the Twelve.”

We often refer to them as the “Minor Prophets,” due to their small size, particularly in reference to the “Major Prophets.” Very much unlike Isaiah, for example, with his 66 chapters … is the book of Obadiah with only 1 chapter, really just 21 verses!

And one such little “Minor Prophet” is “Joel,” our subject for a few days.

I checked and was a bit surprised to find that (after more than twelve years of writing Bible Lessons every morning) not a single Article from the Prophecy of Joel is on record! Not on our “Site Map” anyway. Although I have taught from the Book, every verse. And preached its Truths a few times, too.

So today I’d like to “introduce” you to the man and his message.

He’s amazing.

His name (Joel) is a actually a blend (really a contraction) of two well-known Hebrew Titles. Those being “Jehovah” and “Elohim!”

And these are?

God’s very Names in the Old Testament. Occurring 6,519 times (Jehovah) and 2,606 times (Elohim). By the way, the Prophet “Elijah” has a name that is the reverse of Joel! His blends first “Elohim” then “Jehovah!”

These men loved such names, their very nomenclature preaching vivid sermons to the people of Israel!

This too, Joel is likely one of the earliest writing Prophets of Israel. That’s also why he is near the first of the list of Minor Prophets. They generally are arranged earlier to later, chronologically. Dr. C. I. Scofield (in his study Bible) dates Joel at 800 BC, perhaps during the reign of young King Joash.

But now quickly, what is the subject matter of the Book of Joel?

Essentially he is a one-topic man, obsessed with the “Day of the Lord.”

This is a term in the Bible always associated with judgment, it seems.

One of the Reference Bibles I have suggests that Joel sees 3 different periods of judgment, one more local and one seemingly national and one definitely world-wide!

Wow!

More tomorrow, the Lord willing, as we begin our journey.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

After all the “double” blessings God bestowed upon Job, and after another 140 years of joyful life, his Book concludes with these words: “So Job died, being old and full of days.” Job 42:17

Maybe by then 175-185 years old, with only one year of terrible suffering … overall, blessed of God indeed!

Job, now to be buried, but victorious over the Devil, over Satan’s lies!

Job NEVER cursed God!

But I am thinking of something this morning.

Earlier in the Book, Eliphaz (who spoke so many wrong things, especially when applied to Job, misapplied really) made a particular statement to the Patriarch: “Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.” Job 5:26

Eliphaz was describing the blessings that “fall” (directed by a Perfect God) upon the truly righteous man!

Here’s more of what he said: “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. THOU SHALT COME TO THY GRAVE IN A FULL AGE, LIKE AS A SHOCK OF CORN COMETH IN HIS SEASON. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.” Job 5:17-27

It is as if God “heard” those words of censure hurled at Job … and (in the end) fulfilled every one of them … blessing (godly) Job beyond measure!

With a “double portion!”

As if to say to Eliphaz (and Bildad and Zophar) … “SEE, JOB IS EVERYTHING I SAID HIM TO BE! A MAN WHO LOVES THE LORD WITH ALL HIS HEART! RIGHTEOUS, EVEN BY YOUR OWN STANDARDS!”

“So Job died, being old and full of days.” Job 42:17

Oh, how very faithful our great God truly is!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Our Jobian Paragraph today is rather lengthy, for a Web post anyway. And God is still speaking, but this time not to Job himself. Do you remember the three “friends” Job had?

Listen to this. “And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:7-10

Wow!

Full of information, this Text.

I can’t remember anywhere God’s “wrath” was specifically said to rise against Job. Although Job “thought” God was angry at him. God never said so, never agreed. BUT IN JOB 42:7 GOD’S WRATH IS CLEARLY PRONOUNCED ON ELIPHAZ AND BILDAD AND ZOPHAR!

In fact, here God declares that Job has spoken right things!

Notice too that these 3 men are told to “offer up” for themselves an offering to God, a burnt offering! Folks, this could not have been done in the days after Moses, after the giving of the Law, when an official priesthood existed in Israel. Because the priests would have handled, sacrificed such burnt offerings! Thus I suggest the Book of Job at least predates Moses! (Probably it was written, Job lived, as far back as Abraham, around 2,000 BC.)

Wow!

Then look. God had NO DOUBT that Job would pray for these men, even though they had verbally attacked him time and time again! Yet Jesus had not yet commanded: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 (But the same Holy Spirit of the New Testament, the Sermon on the Mount era was quite active in Job’s life as well!)

Job prayed!

He must have been quite a prayer warrior!

The Prophet Ezekiel sure thought so, listing Job along side Noah and Daniel as men of power with God! See Ezekiel 14:14 and again Ezekiel 14:20, twice!

Furthermore, God here accused the trio of “judges” who so mistreated Job … of being “foolish men!” Men of “folly!” Yet I remind you God never lodged such an accusation against Job!

Maybe Job was a little too “assertive” a few times, but in no way “foolish!”

Yes, here we also learn that God “accepted” Job, a Hebrew verb that means “lifted up.” It is spelled “nasa,” the verb. Lifted him up out of the dunghill, out of the ashes? But clearly in many other ways too.

Maybe praying for those “hypocrites” ended the contest with Satan!

Because God immediately “turned the captivity” of Job! Released Job from the clutches of Satanic prowess. Restored to Job … more than he ever had before the battle began!

What a “turn” of events!

No wonder James in the New Testament writes about the “end of the Lord’s dealings with Job,” the final chapter of the story! It is glorious. “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11, Amen!

God truly saves the BEST until LAST!

Still, I need another Lesson to complete our study of Job, maybe even two more.

Joyfully this morning …

Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

The last chapter of Job, the 42nd, is thrilling!

Its first 6 verses record Job’s last known words in the Book, in the Story.

One can just hear the Wisdom and Love as this special servant of the Lord speaks. And no surprise, he’s no longer talking to Eliphaz or Bildad or Zophar (having never spoken to Elihu) … rather, he’s talking to his God! The God to Whom he has held so tenaciously through all his ordeal!

Listen with me: “Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I KNOW that thou canst do every thing, and that NO THOUGHT can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things TOO WONDERFUL for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but NOW mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and REPENT in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6

There seem to be some things Job “knows” at the end of the Book … that he didn’t know at the beginning. Or didn’t know fully at the beginning! Things that were too “wonderful” (in Hebrew “pala,” often meaning “hard” to understand) for him! (It’s as if Job says, “I now know that Thou canst do everything!”) By the way, suffering always teaches the lowly child of God; rather, the Holy Spirit teaches through that suffering.

Job (unknowingly being the center of conflict between God and Satan) was “out of his league” when it comes to explaining his situation. He now believes God even “knew his thoughts” during that awful time! (“No thought can be withholden from Thee, Lord!”)

Listen also to Job’s finally satisfied yearning to see God, for God to appear in his case. “I have heard of thee, God, by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye SEETH thee.” Job begged and begged for God to answer him. And in the end (as always), he was granted MORE than he asked. God came to see Him!

Even if God has censured Job a bit, for his much talking without full knowledge, Job is still excited! Happy, simply because God has come! And I believe God is thrilled with His servant, too. Otherwise the Almighty just might not have visited Job … via that mighty whirlwind!

Then watch. “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job repenting? YES, all mature, growing Christians do! Paul often spoke of a “godly repentance,” mostly practiced by those closest to their Lord I suspect.

In reality, every time someone sees God he or she responds this way, in abject amazement.

Abraham did.

Daniel did.

Peter did.

John on the isle of Patmos did. (One example: “And when I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.” Revelation 1:17)

We shall too, some day!

I don’t mind telling you, Job has become one of my heroes!

Oh, how great a man of God he really was!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell