Joel 2:12-14 (MSG)

² But there's also this, it's not too late—
God's personal Message!—
"Come back to me and really mean it!
Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!"

^13-14Change your life, not just your clothes.
Come back to God, your God.
And here's why: God is kind and merciful.
He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot,
This most patient God, extravagant in love,
always ready to cancel catastrophe.
Who knows? Maybe he'll do it now,
maybe he'll turn around and show pity.
Maybe, when all's said and done,
there'll be blessings full and robust for your God!

There are messages that are for the audience that it was delivered to, there are messages that can be spoken to us in the here and now, and then there are timeless messages. Although, the book of Joel is a prophetic message of judgement to the Israelite people, within this book is a timeless message of repentance. Joel 2:28-32 is quoted on the day of Pentecost by Peter (Acts 2:17-21) because the Holy Spirit will still be poured out on all people!!

Furthermore, the portion that I quoted above is such an encouraging message - a message of hope. "It's not too late!" There are times when it feels like there is no longer any hope and the calamity that is taking place in our world and in the lives of people all around us is the end result. But it is in this passage that there is a ray of light in a dark time for Israel, "God is kind and merciful...is ready to cancel catastrophe." Drunkenness, promiscuity, idol worship are still issues today and God's judgement over that sin is still true - but he is still kind and is ready to receive his people with open arms.

We may not be called to be prophets (although we may) nevertheless the message of Joel needs to be known and understood in order to speak justice and mercy to our world. As we see the economy fail, sin paraded in the streets and families torn to pieces because of sin - we are called to speak truth, a difficult truth at times much like the prophet Joel.

This was a great book to be reminded of and when I read it in different versions I was able to get a better grasp on it. I always enjoy The Message Version, not because it allows for deep study, but because it always helps me to visualize scripture quite vividly.