What does "word of the LORD" in Joel 1:1 teach about divine authority? Opening Text “This is the word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel.” (Joel 1:1) The phrase “word of the LORD” appears more than 240 times in Scripture. In Joel 1:1 it immediately anchors the entire book in God’s own voice, not a human agenda. Divine Origin, Not Human Opinion - “Word” (Hebrew dābār) points to an actual utterance—spoken, heard, delivered. - “Of the LORD” ties the utterance to Yahweh, the covenant God who revealed Himself to Moses (Exodus 3:14). - Joel records what was “given” to him; he did not invent, embellish, or negotiate the content (cf. 2 Peter 1:21). Authority Embedded in the Speaker - The phrase establishes that every prophecy that follows carries the same weight as God Himself. - Psalm 33:9: “For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.” What God says is what is. - Isaiah 55:11: “So My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty.” Divine speech is effectual, never idle. Divine Initiative - Note the verb: “came.” The movement is from God to Joel, not the other way around. Revelation is God’s gracious self-disclosure (Amos 3:7). - Joel’s role is passive in origin but active in delivery; he receives, then relays. Binding Nature of the Message - Because the source is perfect (Psalm 19:7), the message is non-negotiable. - Disregarding it invites judgment; heeding it brings alignment with God’s will (Deuteronomy 18:19). Reliability and Permanence - Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” The phrase in Joel underscores that stability. - 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed,” affirming its continuing relevance. Passing of Prophetic Authority - By naming “Joel son of Pethuel,” the text anchors divine speech in real history. - It follows the pattern of earlier prophets—“The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah” (Jeremiah 1:4), Ezekiel, Hosea, etc.—showing a consistent chain of revelation. Practical Implications - We read Joel not as ancient literature alone but as God’s living voice (Hebrews 4:12). - The phrase challenges every reader: submit, trust, and obey. To question the “word of the LORD” is to question the Lord Himself. In short, “word of the LORD” in Joel 1:1 asserts divine authorship, absolute authority, and unwavering reliability—calling us to receive the book as God’s own, binding address. |
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