Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Sep 2 2019 - Joel 3 – Blessing beyond judgment

In Joel 3, the Lord promises that the day is coming when he will restore the fortunes of his people. The nations that he had used to execute his judgment upon them will in their turn be judged. They will gather in the valley of Jehoshaphat (vv.2, 12) – the name means "The Lord judges" – where the Lord will repay them for what they have done. This will be the valley of decision (v.14), a valley where God will make a final division between his people and those who have oppressed them.

Joel 3:12-13 pictures God's judgment in terms of a harvest of grapes which fill the winepress before they are then trampled. This same picture is gruesomely elaborated in Isaiah 63:1-6 where the garments of those pressing the grapes are stained red, as with blood (see also Revelation 14:14-20). These prophetic pictures were turned into song in The Battle Hymn of the Republic:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

This is a constant theme through the pages of Scripture: God rescues his people from oppression and gives them peace and security by acts of judgment which break the power of those who hold them captive. This was what happened when God saved his people from Egypt; he came down in judgment upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians so that his people might be set free. This is what happened when God brought his people into the Promised Land; he came down in judgment upon the Canaanites so that his people might enjoy security and blessing in the land. That is what will happen in the Last Day when God puts down all rebellion against his appointed King – see the destruction of "Babylon" in Revelation 18 which is followed by a far more glorious "Hallelujah" chorus than that found in The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Revelation 19:1-8). This prepares the way for the New Jerusalem where Christ will reign with his people for all eternity and where the final assertion of the book of Joel, "The Lord dwells in Zion!" will find its ultimate fulfilment.

And this too is the pattern of our redemption. God exercised his judgment upon sinful humanity when Jesus died in our place upon the cross. He endured the judgment we deserved so that we might go free. Because of him, we are freed from condemnation. Our precious Lord is our refuge and stronghold (Joel 3:16); we are secure in him for now and for eternity. 

Judgment and salvation are two sides of the same coin. God saves his people by crushing the powers that hold them captive. Only at the cross are God's wrath and mercy reconciled in the person of his Son and the salvation of his people:

We worship at your feet
Where wrath and mercy meet
And a guilty world is washed
By love's pure stream
For us he was made sin
Oh, help me take it in
Deep wounds of love cry out 'Father, forgive'
I worship, I worship
The Lamb who was slain. (Graham Kendrick)

Holy Father, I have to confess that I don't like reading passages about your judgment. My limited understanding finds it difficult to reconcile your judgment with your love. But I am very thankful that though I may not be able to fit these things together, you brought them together in the cross and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Give me a deeper understanding of all that you have done to cleanse me from my sin and guilt and bring me back home into the embrace of your love.

Sep 2 2020 - Matthew 9:18-38 – The good news of the kingdom

Jesus had power to heal the sick; the hand stretched out to him in faith felt his transforming power. Jesus raised the dead with the touch of his hand; he is the author of life. Jesus gave sight to the blind; he enabled those who had lived in darkness to come into the light. Jesus gave a voice to those who could not speak; those who had been robbed of the ability to praise were freed from Satan’s bondage. Wherever he went, lives were transformed by his presence and power. The incidents in this passage of Scripture are well captured in Charles Wesley’s wonderful hymn:

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of His grace.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'Tis music in the sinner's ear,
'tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avails for me.

He speaks, and listening to His voice,
new life the dead receive.
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice;
the humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ.
Ye blind, behold your Saviour come;
and leap, ye lame, for joy.

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the Earth abroad,
the honours of Thy name.

Matthew 9 ends with an account of Jesus' travels and ministry throughout Galilee; "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness" (9:35). We read that, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (9:36). Jesus had come as David's greater son. He had come to be a shepherd to his people Israel – the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep. He had come not only to preach concerning the kingdom; he had come to establish his kingdom. But it was not the kingdom that people were expecting – a kingdom marked by military might and naked power. He had come to establish a kingdom of compassion; a kingdom which is good news for the poor; a kingdom open to all.

Jesus’ compassion for the crowds moves him to tell his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (9:37-38). Jesus wants recruits who will join him in the work of the kingdom.

The needs are no less severe today. We live in a world where many still feel harassed and helpless; where they need not only to hear the good news of the kingdom but to be met with the compassion of Christ. We also need to pray for our world and for the coming of the kingdom; "May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven."

But prayer is not enough. As we shall see in tomorrow's reading, Jesus sends his disciples out to be the answer to their own prayer. We who know and follow the Good Shepherd are to go and bring his transforming compassion to a needy world. We are to be agents of the kingdom.

Lord, open my eyes to see today where I may bring the transforming touch of your kingdom to those who are lost. Loosen my tongue today to speak of the Shepherd who restores the soul of those who come to him. By your Spirit, fill me with your power and enable me to be part of the good news of the kingdom. Help me to spread your fame wherever I go.

Peter Misselbrook