Among
Job’s many words of anguish, there are these tremendous words – “I know
that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the
earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see
God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another” (Job 19:25-27).
We must not lose patience. Before Jesus was raised, He went to the
Cross. The Psalmist had this testimony – “I call to the Lord, who is
worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:3).
This great testimony did not come easily – “The cords of death
entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of
the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me” (Psalm 18:4-5). For us, as for Jesus, out of death comes resurrection.
There is to be prayer from “every one who lives in the land” (Joel 1:14). It is to be personal prayer - “O Lord, I cry to You for help!” (Joel 1:19). These two belong together - prayer for the nation and personal prayer. This is expressed so well in the words: “O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee. Send a revival. Start the work in me.” We hear the words, “Return to the Lord, your God” (Joel 2:13). They are followed by some wonderful words about the character of God - “He is merciful and compassionate, patient and always ready to forgive and to change His plans about disaster” (Joel 2:13). How do we know that God is like this? We look at what He has done for us - “Be glad and rejoice. The Lord has done great things!” (Joel 2:21). Looking at all that the Lord has done for us, we trust His promise: “Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32). This salvation is more than forgiveness for past sins. It’s more than the future glory of being in God’s ev...
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