Pastor Stewart drew parallels between the book of Joel and the Covid pandemic. He stated that a major parallel was the economic impact — wealth and comfort were greatly impacted, then and now. Also, joy was removed: churches have been closed; praise has ceased from God’s house….
The first half was about the locust plague described in Joel; why God sends providential chastening; what that chastening targets….
He then began to compare the locust plague in Joel with the international Covid pandemic; he demonstrated that God was, via Covid, doing to the present world what He did to Israel, as recorded by Joel.
God’s target is economic; and it is to stop the superficial joy that the world has known via their prosperity; also to stop praises from His church, as it is generally, as superficial as the world.
Economic chastening is occurring due to covetousness and materialism.
Another way God is stopping joy is that He is prohibiting fellowship: general socialization and fellowship in the church.
Just as in Joel, the people are slow to hear; thus, a second wave is beginning.
This sermon seems to be the first in a series. He did not get into applications; he only hinted that as in Joel, people were very slow to see that they were being chastened, to repent, and to return to God via personal prayer and reading His word.
[The above statements are highlights that leave out many details; therefore, if this topic is of interest to you it is worth listening to the sermon; and possibly subscribing to the site.]
Sermon link [I am still not able to upload sermons]: