Call On The Name of The Lord
Scripture Passage: Joel 2:28-32 (NASB)
28 “It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will have dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
29 And even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
32 And it will come about that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
Will be saved;
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who escape,
Just as the Lord has said,
Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
SUMMARY
When people of God wholeheartedly repent of their sins, God restores His people and even nature. Joel says, after this restoration happens, God’s spirit will pour out upon all mankind that sons and daughters will prophesy, old men will dream dreams, and young men will see visions. Joel explains that salvation will come to the people of the Lord when they call on the name of the Lord.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
In chapter 1 of the book, Joel paints the scene of calamity and devastation that locusts have brought into the land of Israelites. On Joel 1:10 it says, “The field is ruined, The land mourns; For the grain is ruined, The new wine dries up, Fresh oil fails.” I don’t think it’s coincidental that we are reading Joel after finishing off the book of Deuteronomy. We read in Deuteronomy chapter 28 that Moses said God shall bring curses upon Israelites if they are not careful to observe His commandments and statutes. “You shall bring much seed to the field but you will gather in little, for the locust will consume it. You shall plant and cultivate vineyards, but you will neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm will devour them. You shall have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives will drop off.” (Deuteronomy 28:38-40) His words came true to Israelites and their land as they forsook the love of the Lord their God.
However, just as the curses came true for them, His promise of restoration also came true as they wailed, mourned, fasted and rendered their heart back to the Lord.
“So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all the I command you today, you and your sons, then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.” (Deuteronomy 30:1-3) When God’s people rend their heart with sincere repentance, He restores His people and nature. His promise of blessing awaits to those who return to the Lord.
APPLICATION
So it says in today's text, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered.” This is the salvation promise of God for His people. I mediated deeper to think about what it means to “call on the name of the Lord”....
For me, calling on the name of the Lord means, I’m helpless without Him. I need Him to sustain my life and I cannot make anything out of my life without His grace. I’ve often lived out my life as if I have accomplished something with my own ability and talent. However, I am realizing more and more, especially this year that He has and should have lordship over my life, not me. I cry out and call upon the name of the Lord because I know He is the Lord over my life. No more self reliance, conceit, pride shall have a place in my heart, but humility, meekness, and obedience in my heart should dwell in my heart to “call on the name of the Lord” in everything I do.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
I’m realizing more than ever that our last days are near. I think about all the people I love who are not saved by your grace and do not call you as their savior and the Lord. You promise your salvation to “whoever calls on the name of the LORD” for them to return to your presence and to know that you are their God.
Lord, there’s no greater joy and peace than knowing you. No treasures of this world are worth it. I pray that you will once again remember those I’m praying for salvation. Before the calamity and destruction happens, may they come to know you. The truth and life! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
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