Let us never lose sight that God's purpose in history from grasshopper swarms to worldwide judgment to the dissolution of

sun and moon, the purpose of God in all that he does is that he might be exalted as God in the eyes of the world.

So what is God's purpose? the world.

So what is God's purpose in executing justice and showing mercy in the world?

That's the question John Piper answers from the Book of Joel in this episode of Light and Truth.

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on September 19th,

1982.

Joel, chapter 1, verse 1.

The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pythool.

We know almost nothing about this prophet Joel.

But that doesn't really matter because it's clear from that one sentence that his intention is to be the mouthpiece of God not to speak from himself.

Then in verses two and three, he says that his message should be passed on for generation after generation,

which makes it very fitting that here we are more than 2,500 years later, probably still

passing it on.

Then in verse 4 begins the description of the catastrophe, the locust leg.

What the cutting locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten.

What the swarming locust has left, the hopping locust has eaten.

And what the hopping locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.

The results of this locust plague were utterly devastating.

It is almost impossible for us to imagine here in the 20th century with our modern ways what it meant when a locust horde attacked Israel.

Verse 5, all the wine is cut off from the drunkard's mouth.

Verse seven, the fig trees have been splintered.

...