Daily Devotions
Joel
"O LORD, to You I cry out"
Text: Joel 1:19
THE APPEALS SENT OUT
The prophet Joel appealed to many groups of people, urging all to cry out to the Lord for mercy:
1. The drinkers of wine Joel 1:5
2. The farmers Joel 1:11a
3. The vinedressers Joel 1:11b
4. The priests Joel 1:13
5. The elders Joel 1:14
3. The vinedressers Joel 1:11b
4. The priests Joel 1:13
5. The elders Joel 1:14
5. The elders Joel 1:14
He did not seem to have much success in persuading anyone to fast and pray.
A PERSONAL LAMENT
Joel fought feelings of hopelessness and despair. He cried out to the LORD in desperation.
“O LORD, to You I cry out;
For fire has devoured the open pastures,
And a flame has burned all the trees of the field.
The beasts of the field also cry out to You,
For the water brooks are dried up,
And fire has devoured the open pastures.”
Joel 1:19-20
1. “O LORD, to You I cry out”
a) Nobody else seems to be crying out.
b) Joel the prophet would not fail to offer strong intercessory prayers.
c) But he was not certain that his intercessory prayers would be sufficient.
2. “The beasts of the field also cry out to You”
a) But the beasts of the field are not human beings.
b) Their cry arose from deep hunger.
c) That may not count for much.
3. An added disaster
a) Wildfire had broken out.
b) The open pastures were devoured.
c) The trees were burned.
d) The water brooks were all dried up.
e) The land of Israel was facing a national crisis!
TOO FAR GONE SPIRITUALLY
If ever a national fast was needed, it was now! But Israel was too far gone spiritually to respond meaningfully!