Bible Study for Ash Wednesday Message

Who wants to receive disturbing advice, even on Ash Wednesday?  We don't like to hear distressing counsel directed toward us, even from God.  But what if we are among those who urgently need to prepare for what is soon coming our way?  The "Day of the Lord" (Judgment Day) is at hand says the prophet. 
From biblical times until the present, both warfare and locust plagues have threatened people.  The Bible mentions plagues of locust.  Biblical and other literature are filled with stories about their frightening swarming destruction of every blade of vegetation on the ground, in the vineyards and from the fruit trees.  If you Google "recent locust plagues" it will display over a million hits.  The treat of gluttonous, invading armies, whether of people or insects, terrifies people who are powerless against overwhelming dangers.  For people who rely on the right amount of rainfall and lack of pests to get enough food to stay alive during the current year and to have seed for the next year, a swarm of locusts threatens starvation for humanbeings and animals.  And even survivors face the loss of livelihoods from farming and commerce.  Not only in the ancient world, but too often in the modern world,  famine relief was and is unknown or inadequate.  And people die, from babies on up, one by one, and by the thousands.

To catch the frightening glimpse of the locust plague read Joel 1 and 2.  "What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten.  What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.  There are other accounts of locust plagues in Exodus, Judges, 1 Kings, Jeremiah, Amos, Malachi, and Revelation.

The Lord's warning sound, by trumpet and loud piercing shouting, was to alarm its hearers to the core--they will tremble from fear.  The dark terms of 2:2 are used throughout prophetic writings for the coming of God's judgment.  Verses 3-11 elaborate on the terrifying threat that is coming:  sense the increasingly throbbing pulse--even through the windows of homes--of the steadily advancing threatening force as it comes.  Even the sun, moon and stars are profoundly affected (v. 10); this along with 2:31, gives an apocalyptic effect (like the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:16-21).  Perhaps the most terrifying verse of all is 2:11:  It is the Lord who heads up this mighty army of destruction against his people.  "Truly the day of the LORD is great; terrible indeed--who can endure it?" (2:11; and see vs. 31).

The declaration that a terrifying Day of the Lord is near is central to Joel 2's meaning and preaching.  Read Joel 1:15; 2:1-2, 11, 31; 31:3:14.  There were those Israelites who believed, sometimes correctly, that the Day of the Lord would be judgment against Israel's enemies, hence deliverance for Israel.  But Amos (chapter 5, especially vv. 18ff.) sets them straight by saying that God's Judgment Day would be against those Israelites who hurt the poor.  (See also Isaiah 13:1-9--against Babylon; Jeremiah 46:2, 8-10--against Egypt; Ezekiel 13:3-5--against phony prophets; Obadiah 1:15--against Edom; Zephaniah 1:4-7, 14-16--against idolaters and others who sin.  Then Malachi 3:1-3, 4:4-6 sets the stage for the transition of the Day of the Lord into the New Testament. 

The (second) coming of Jesus Christ parallels the Day of the Lord in some passages (see 1 Corinthians 1:8; Philippians 1:6, 10; 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10, 23-24; 2 Peter 3:1-18).  Those who are ready will rejoice; others will regret their situation.  John the Baptizer warns all to repent or else.  Jesus says, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:14-15 and parallels).  The New Testament speaks of fleeing the wrath of God to come (Matthew 3:7 and parallels); 1 Thessalonians 1:10.  In both Testaments God warns of lasting consequences to those nations and persons who continue in their sin against God.  No one likes to hear this.  And if we are among those who hear and believe the warning, we may feel that things are now hopeless for us before our alarming God.

And yet, "Who knows whether (the LORD) will not turn and relent? (2:14).  Might there be hope for us after all?  Read again 2:12-14.  It is on the basis of God's character (vs. 13b: "The LORD) is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (hesed)", that we might return to the Lord and he might then relent.  The word return (vvs. 12, 13) is the Hebrew word shuv, frequently translated "repent."  Its fundamental meaning is to return, turn back, turn around.  It means to turn from sin and to turn in the direction of a merciful, loving God.  But to repent is not merely feeling sorry for sin, but intending with God's strength to live right, amend one's life (Deuteronomy 11:13-15; Jeremiah 29:10-14).  It is to return to God "with all your heart, with fasting: (Joel 2:12).  the Christian season of Lent (Spring) is a meditative period of preparation, with any needed repentance and personal fasting.  Joel 2:13a "Rend (rip) your hearts and not your clothing" refers to a characteristic socially-recognized way of showing mourning or repentance, as does wearing sackcloth (a rough bag to hold grain) and ashes.  For God's relenting (changing his mind) see Jonah 3:4; 4:3; Exodus 32:14; 2 Samuel 24:16; Jeremiah 18:8-10; 26:3, 13.  To ask God to relent, the people (including babies, newlyweds, priests) were to gather in a solemn assembly and to fast, and pray (1:14; 2:12-17).

God graciously relented and delivered them.  God reversed the curse to a blessing: "I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the hoppers, the destroyers, the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you" (2:25).