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Minor Prophets, Part 2: Babylonian Crisis

  1. Lesson One
    Nahum
    23 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Zephaniah
    22 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Habakkuk
    19 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Joel and Josiah
    24 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Interpreting Prophecy
    34 Activities
    |
    7 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Minor Prophets, Part 2: Babylonian Crisis Joel and Josiah In Front | Workbook: The Role and Responsibility of Elders
Lesson 4, Activity 22

In Front | Workbook: The Role and Responsibility of Elders

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[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

When things go as badly as they do in Joel, it’s not always fair to isolate one person or group as responsible. In this case, however, consider the culpability of the Israelite elders. 

The role of elders, as we saw in the 5 books of Moses, was to guard the community in the way of Torah. In Joel 1:14, we see a direct reference to the role of the elders in the crisis the prophet describes:

Consecrate a fast;
    call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
    and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the LORD your God,
    and cry out to the LORD. 
Joel 1:14 ESV

The fact that Joel has to call upon the elders to cry out to YHWH in this moment implies that they haven’t been doing their job as spiritual leaders. In contrast, the revival of Josiah was led by the country’s leadership.  

  1. If you are a pastor, elder or leader in your faith community, how are you actively guarding the community and watching for signs of crisis? If you are not in a leadership role, how are you supporting those who are?