sunrise
Posted on by Barbara Lynn Seibel

SHINE

What is the definition of shine?

Consider the following possibilities found at Merriam-Webster.com:

1 : to emit rays of light

2 : to be bright by reflection of light

3a : to be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished  

b : to perform extremely well

4 : to have a bright glowing appearance

5 : to be conspicuously evident or clear

What is the opposite of shine?

Consider the following possibilities found at Merriam-Webster.com:

1 : to make dark

2 : to make less clear : obscure the financial crisis darkened the future of the company

3 : taint, tarnish darkened his reputation

4 : to cast a gloom over

5 : to make of darker color

  • How often have you gotten up to see a sunrise begin to shine?
  • How did it make you feel?
  • How would you feel if you got up expecting to see the sunshine and it was dark instead?

Come explore what the Lord is communicating to us in Joel 3:15  about the sun, moon and stars ceasing to shine.

NIV  Joel 3:15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.

  • Does this verse sound familiar?

It should if you have been following this study of Joel with me.

Consider these earlier verses in Joel:

NIV  Joel 2:10 Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.

NIV  Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

It may be helpful to review my earlier posts in this series on these two verses:

Read our verse for today again:

NIV  Joel 3:15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.

  • What is repeated in this verse that was in Joel 2:10 and 2:31 above?

All three verses include that the sun, moon, and stars will no longer shine but be completely darkened.

  • Who is the intended audience of Joel 2:10 and 2:31?

Review Joel 1:1-3

NIV  Joel 1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel. 2 Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your forefathers? 3 Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.

The message of Joel is being given through the Lord’s prophet Joel to the residents of Judea.

They are to pass this message down to subsequent generations.

  • Who is the intended audience of Joel 3:15?

Review Joel 3:9:

ESV  Joel 3:9 Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up.

Not only are the Judeans and their descendants supposed to receive this message from the Lord, but they are to proclaim this message among the nations.

The Lord wants all people then to hear this message.

  • Why is this message important to the Lord to communicate?

Review Joel 2:12-13:

NIV  Joel 2:12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

The Lord desires for His people return to Him wholeheartedly by acknowledging that we have failed to give Him glory appropriately.

  • What does it mean to give the Lord glory?

Worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving is a way to describe the action of giving glory.

  • What will happen when we return wholeheartedly to worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving of the Lord?

Review Joel 2:18:

NIV  Joel 2:18 Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people.

The rest of chapter two in Joel details all that the Lord promises to do in restoring not only physical economy of His followers but most significantly a promise to strengthen them Spiritually before the foretold Day of the Lord.

Joel 3:1-8 turns attention towards the surrounding nations who have specifically harmed those who call on the name of the Lord. A legal case is detailed indicating that as they have harmed His followers, the Lord will in turn judge them appropriately.

But this judgment is not to be issued prior to them being informed about the consequences of their behavior.

How do we apply this today?

Just as the Lord’s followers were given encouragement to return and properly glorify Him, I sense the Lord’s desire in instructing His followers in Joel 3:9 to inform the surrounding mockers about future judgment to come from Him is to provide a warning and an opportunity.

Just as the Lord sent locusts to awaken His people, He in turn is sending His people to live a life that glorifies Him as an example of what He desires of all nations.

The Lord’s followers are to be a wakeup call to those around them who mock, harm, or discount the Lord.

Rise and Shine

This morning as I awakened a familiar childhood Bible song was in my thoughts.

I had not recently heard the tune so was a bit surprised until I sat down to study Joel 3:15.

As I looked up the definition to the word shine suddenly that childhood tune from the morning came rushing back at me again.

May you enjoy this childhood song and consider deeply the implications of the chorus in relation to the challenge we have been given to rise and shine to give God glory every day.

  • How will you give God glory today?
  • Interested in encouraging further discussion publicly? Leave a comment on the blog.

Blessings,

Barbara Lynn

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