God goes beyond mercy and promises his presence as he declares that he will pour out his spirit on all people.  This is a direct link to the birth of the church in Acts chapter 2 when Peter actually quotes these words from Joel.  It is then when we realise that the Holy Spirit has come and God himself abides with us.  For the people of God in the days of Joel this was an overwhelming promise.  God’s presence was too awesome for them, when Moses returned from talking to God his face shone so brightly that he had to wear a veil as the people couldn’t bear it.  When God’s presence was in the temple in the holy of holies only the chief priest was allowed in and sometimes they didn’t survive the encounter.  When Isaiah was met by the Lord in the temple he cried out ‘woe is me’ for God’s presence was so holy that it was too much too bear.

But yet here in the book of Joel God says a day is coming when his presence will abide with us all. Son and daughters, young and old, men and women, slave and free. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  What has happened between the day of Joel and today, to make this possible?  The answer is Jesus, who through his death, resurrection and his return to heaven, and now represents each one of us before the throne of God.  The scars that bought our freedom are manifested in heaven, the power of the resurrection has shaken hell to its now powerless core and in his glorious ascended power he has taken his rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  When God looks on us through the lens of Jesus he sees us his ransomed and redeemed children and he has turned up where we are and he is not for leaving.  Praise his Holy name.