Joel 2:18-3:21; Hebrews 4:1-13
Today, in Psalm 119:145-152, the psalmist reveals his personal commitment to walk steadfastly with the Lord. Twice, he says “I will call out to you” – the first time, with his whole heart – and he promises “to obey the Lord’s decrees and statutes” (verses 145-146). We notice that his devotional efforts began “before dawn” (verse 147), which is a good time for a person to get alone with the Sovereign of our universe. Jesus Himself practiced this exercise (cf., Mark 1:35 and Luke 6:6-16). Moreover, we also notice that the Psalmist’s dedication extended “through the watches of the night” (verse 148). How and why was he so committed? He tells us that his “hope is in God’s Word” and that his call and trust in the LORD is in accordance with God’s love and His laws” (verses 147-149). Moreover, he says that, “Long ago, he learned from God’s Word that His commands are true and His statutes are forever” (verses 151-152). The psalmist is committed because of his hope and God’s love. Only God’s love can “preserves our lives” (verse 149), and the psalmist knows the value of this preservation. When we truly know that something has high value, we can commit ourselves to it fully. The psalmist knows that the LORD is near, and that He alone is able to preserve his life. God’s love and preservation are worth our total commitment.
In Joel 2:18-3:21, we see through this prophet that God promises and fully intends to restore Israel from her destruction and judgment. “The LORD Himself is jealous for His land, and He takes pity on His people” (verse 18). He promises to send the people “grain, new wine, and oil” – the staples of Israel – “and enough to satisfy them fully” (verse 19). They will never again be objects of scorn to the nations; “never again will my people be shamed” (verse 26). The great day of the LORD is coming when He “will pour out His Spirit on all people, and there will be deliverance on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem” (verse 32). In chapter 3, Joel tells us that God will “gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment because the nations scattered His people, divided up His land,” and engaged in human trafficking with them (verses 1-3). Joel’s description of these events portrays God’s future work of judgment on all mankind and the fulfillment of His program for His people. Israel will finally accept and receive her Messiah, and Judah and Jerusalem will be inhabited forever.
Today in our passage in Hebrews – 4:1-13 – we recognize a certain urgency about responding to God’s voice “today” (verse 7). To ignore or to put off God’s call is eternally dangerous because we do not even know if we have a tomorrow. The apostle James cautions us – “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (cf., James 4:14). Today may be one’s only opportunity to receive Christ. The writer of Hebrews says that the call of God (i.e., the gospel) is of “no value” to those who do not respond (i.e., believe or obey it). Why does he tell us that? The gospel is precious, but for people who reject and repudiate it, it becomes useless to them. Why do they reject it? People today hardly consider the possibility of perishing. They have no idea of the worth of God’s Word, so they render it ineffective by their contempt for it. Foolishly, they throw away any promise of entering into the eternal rest that God desires and has prepared for His children. Thus, the gospel is wasted on those who refuse to respond. Wasting opportunities to enter into God’s rest is really irrational, but a person who rejects his only opportunity to do so becomes an eternal danger to himself. And that’s eternally regrettable.
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