I started reading Joel today. It’s similar to Hosea and Jeremiah and Isaiah in that it also warns Israel’s enemies of their coming doom. But Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible says something interesting: “GOD employed a shepherd, a herdsman, to reprove and warn the people. Those to whom God gives abilities for his services, ought not to be despised for their origin, or their employment. Judgments are denounced against the neighbouring nations, the oppressors of God’s people.” I hadn’t really thought much about the author, but imagine what it must have been like. You are a simple farmer, not known for your wisdom (except perhaps in caring for sheep) or learning. You probably didn’t spend much time in rabbi school. You aren’t rich or famous. And suddenly the Most High God of Israel speaks to you and tells you to go and inform the high and mighty and your enemies that they’re going to be crushed. If it were me in this situation I’d think God was messing with my head. What on earth would make these people listen to me? What would keep them from killing me? How would I even be heard? And what about my sheep? Often it’s easy to think of people in a profession or in a financial or social status below ours as inferior and less intelligent. But here is a case where that is clearly disproved. God chose a simple shepherd to be his prophet. Sound familiar? God also chose a simple shepherd to be Israel’s greatest king. And God also sent his Son to a simple carpenter. (And somewhere in there God made a donkey speak to a man who wasn’t listening.) Social standing and financial capability don’t mean much to God since He can do anything. Next time I’m tempted to ignore someone because they seem insignificant, I hope I remember this piece of commentary and listen to what he or she is saying before dismissing him or her.