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Intro: Sometimes we don’t notice what is NOT there, but in Joel… …there’s an interesting omission. This little book is written differently than a lot of prophets, and maybe there’s a little lesson for us in here.
Bible segment: Joel, NIV (New International Version)
Apologetics segment: So what’s the hidden lesson? Let’s start with the purpose of the book:
What is striking about the book of Joel is that there is no indictment section. The only clue to the sins that have called for a prophetic message is in the instruction in 2:12–13 to repent, that is, to “return to me with all your heart” and “rend your heart and not your garments.” All the other prophets (except Jonah, which does not use the prophetic genre) have at least some explicit indication of what behavior needed to be changed. Joel is concerned almost wholly with motivation, with messages of judgment and hope. (1)
~ David Dockery
Here’s my question: Do we always need to call out someone’s sin?
I’m guessing we don’t always because many people know their own sin, or see their actions in a whole new light when they learn what righteousness is. And that’s a rather poignant truth of Christianity, isn’t it…when we really understand what righteousness is, we see more clearly that we’re not.
I am NOT saying we always should use this tactic (not bringing up someone’s sin). Discernment is always the Blue Plate Special.
What might be useful, however, is remembering that we don’t always need to poke at the darkness so much as turn up the light.
Take action segment:
Push into trust: We are all called to be ambassadors, but each of us is in a different situation. Challenge yourself today, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to push a little past your comfort zone into the “Trust Him” zone.
Pray through Psalm 127.
Watch The Bible Project’s video on Joel (below).
Love you!
-R
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in tech-assisted communications, an award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. A five-time entrepreneur and certified John Maxwell Team leadership coach, he now is focused on launching For The Hope, a daily Bible and apologetics podcast and training organization equipping on-the-go Christian ambassadors with competence and confidence for everyday conversations. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources
(1) David S. Dockery, ed., Holman Bible Handbook (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 468.