SATISFIED

What does it take for you to be satisfied?

Does your answer depend on your circumstances?

The most frequently used definition of satisfied is to be pleased or content with what has been experienced or received.

What have you experienced  or received in the last six months that made you feel pleased or content?

Or what are you hoping to experience or receive that will make you be satisfied?

  • Achieving a health goal?
  • Staying covid free?
  • Becoming debt free?
  • Simply being able to pay your bills when income is reduced or nonexistent?
  • Meeting a deadline or coming up with a solution for a personal or work project?
  • Improving your interpersonal relationships?
  • Other?

What elements are within your control and power to make happen so that you experience feeling satisfied?

What elements are beyond your control and power to make happen so that you experience feeling satisfied?

The Judeans in the book of Joel have been suffering a great famine due to an infestation of locusts that destroyed every scrap of edible foods for humans and other animals.

Following the locusts also came drought and fires.

The implication from Joel 1:2 forward has been that the Judeans had neglected their relationship with the Lord.

It is also spelled out that if the Judeans do not return to a proper relationship with their Lord that He will send His heavenly army in judgement of them. (See Joel 2:1-2, 12-14)

Then in Joel 2:15-18 specific instructions of what they need to do to show the Lord they have returned to a right relationship are described and a hope that the Lord will take pity on them.

Read Joel 2:19

ESV  Joel 2:19 The LORD answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

The Lord answered.

Did you catch that?

The Lord answered.

What does this imply?

Remember this entire book is a message from the Lord through Joel His prophet.

The Lord started out by telling the Judeans how dire a situation they were in by having neglected their relationship with Him.

Now, after giving instructions on how they should humble themselves He communicates that He answered their prescribed prayer and holy fast.

This communicates that the Lord wants to change their dire situation.

How does he want to change their situation?

Read Joel 2:19 again:

ESV  Joel 2:19 The LORD answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

What is the Lord promising to send them?

Grain. Wine. Oil.

Staple ingredients in an agricultural society that sustain one’s livelihood.

These are also staple ingredients the Judeans were to regularly bring to the temple as their sacrificial offerings to the Lord.

The Lord goes even further.

He says the Judeans will be satisfied.

Some translations use the phrase, “enough to satisfy you fully”.

Fully satisfied.

What part of this change in circumstances is in the Judeans control?

What part of this change in circumstances is in the Lord’s control?

Does reflecting on the Lord’s desire to fully satisfy the Judeans change your response to the discussion above about what makes you feel satisfied?

What else does the Lord promise in verse 19?

The Lord answers the Judeans question from Joel 2:17 about other nations thinking the Lord is incapable of providing for them.

His promise is that He will never again make them an object of scorn to other nations.

Are these two promises meant for immediate fulfillment or a future yet to be for the Judeans?

Yes, this is a bit of a trick question.

The verbs in the original Hebrew language indicate an immediacy to the promises.

Yet, keep in mind that the Lord desires relationship first. His promises are true. He will fulfill them for all His humble servants.

Are you His humble servant in every area of your life?

Consider the following passage as well:

ESV  Malachi 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts.

12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 3:10 ESV)

The book of Joel is not the only scripture that speaks of being faithful in relationship with the Lord and how the Lord will in turn pour out blessings.

Do not misunderstand.

This is not about a prosperity gospel in the sense of if you check this box off in giving a certain percentage of your money, goods, or services to the Lord that you will then be rewarded abundantly.

When we take these verses out of context it is easy to make that mistake.

Remember the book of Joel is from the Lord to the Judeans and us today.

The implication is that the Lord desires us to want a relationship with Him as much as He desires one with us.

He wants to provide for us abundantly. This gives Him great pleasure.

But when we neglect Him in any way His holy just nature moves Him to send warnings that we are losing touch with what is most important to being fully satisfied.

Being promised a restoration of crops at a time you are suffering from famine would certainly yield immense physical satisfaction.

But consider the words of Christ:

ESV  John 4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?”

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.

Again, does reflecting on the Lord’s desire to fully satisfy the His servants change your response to what makes you feel satisfied?

Blessings,

Barbara Lynn

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