Joel the prophet called upon to people of Judah to consider how their “meat”, “joy”, “gladness”, “seed”, “garners”, “barns” and “corn” were affected by the invading “nation”. They abandoned the ways of God, and the result was thorough devastation. In chapter one and verse eighteen of his prophecy, Joel added “beasts, cattle and flocks of sheep” to the destruction where we read:
How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed,
because they have no pasture; yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
The verse begins, “How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed,…” Joel began with the phrase, “How do the beasts” or “cattle, animals and livestock” “groan” or “sigh, moan, and gasp in pain or grief”! “the herds” which means “flocks, droves and musters” “of cattle” or “ox, herds, calve and cows” “are perplexed” which means “confused”. If we use our imaginations we can almost hear and see the horrific and awful conditions of these livestock and “cattle”.
The verse continues, “…because they have no pasture; yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.” Joel provided the reason the “cattle” are acting the way they are, “because they have no pasture” or “pasturage or feeding-place; “yes the flocks” which means “herds, droves and musters” “of sheep” or “small cattle, goats and flocks usually of sheep and goats” “are made desolate” which means “offended, guilty, doing wrong, committing an offense, do injury, become guilty and trespass”. Instead of feeding areas where the food was rich, the fields were scarce with provision and the “sheep” were “injured” by them.
When we think through these words of Joel, we see how even the animals were affected by the invasion of this “nation”. There may be times when we feel like everything in our lives has suffered ruin and destruction, and we may wonder where we are to turn? God Almighty provided the example of the destruction of Judah through Joel the prophet that we may understand what happens when people forsake God’s ways. If we are suffering loss and devastation like these within Judah, perhaps we should ask the LORD Jesus if there are any areas where we have abandoned his ways.
Next time Joel declares, “O LORD, to you will I cry”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Ray Hanselman 