-Israel-

In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael struck them in all the coasts of Israel; from Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.

-Judah-

And in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds…into covenant with him. And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

And all the congregation made a covenant with Joash in the house of God. And Jehoiada said unto them, "Look, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David." Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon Joash the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed Joash, and said, "God save the king."

Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD: And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entrance, and…all the people of the land rejoiced….

Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, "Treason, Treason." So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entrance of the horse gate by the king's house, they killed her there. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and with the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.

Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and bowed to Joash. Then the king listened to them. And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their sins. Yet the Lord GOD sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and the prophets testified against them: but the people would not listen.

-Joel-

The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel, "Hear this, you old men, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. Has this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?

"Awake, you drunkards, and weep; and howl, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

"The field is devastated, the land mourns; for the corn is destroyed: the new wine is dried up, the oil diminishes. Be you ashamed, O you farmers; howl, O you vinedressers…because the harvest of the field is perished. … Even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

"Consecrate you a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, ‘Alas for the day!’ For the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."

-Joel’s Response-

"Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yes, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seed is rotten under their clods, the storehouses are laid desolate, and the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yes, the flocks of sheep are made to suffer punishment.

"O LORD, to you will I cry: for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field cry also unto you: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness."

-God’s Call-

"Therefore also now, says the LORD, turn you even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and relents him of the evil. Who knows if he will return and relent, and leave a blessing behind him….

"Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yes, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, look, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be satisfied with them: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen….

"And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God that has dealt wonderfully with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else….

"And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

"The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."

-Zechariah-

And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, "This says God, why transgress you the commandments of the LORD, that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you."

And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada…had done to him, but killed Jehoiada’s son. And when he died, Zechariah said, "The LORD look upon it, and require it."

REFERENCES

2 Kings 10:32-33; 2 Chronicles 23:1-3, 11-13, 15-17; 2 Kings 12:1; 2 Chronicles 24:2, 17-19; Joel 1:1-2, 5, 10-12, 14-20; Joel 2:12-14, 18-19, 25-27, 32; Joel 3:16; 2 Chronicles 24:20-22.

CHAPTER 38