Old Testament: Joel 2.15–17

To read the Bible in a year, read The Book of Joel on December 13, In the year of our Lord Christ 2020

By Don Ruhl 

The Lord had the prophet Joel let Israel know that a mighty and all-consuming army was about decimate Israel. However, He wanted His people to repent, encouraging them to rend their hearts in sorrow and in repentance. Then the prophet said: 

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the people,
Sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and nursing babes;
Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,
And the bride from her dressing room.
Let the priests, who minister to the LORD,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
“Where is their God?”

– Joel 2.15–17 

The prophet urged them to do certain things that they might ask God to spare them, lest the enemy question where their God was. They were the people of God. Yet, when the nations would come in and overpower Israel, that would cause the enemy nations to question where Israel’s God was. The prophet saw defeat of Israel as a mark against God in the eyes of the nations. 

The church should be thinking that way. We claim that the God of heaven is ours, yet, we go about our faith so lackadaisically. Be on fire with your faith by filling your life with good works, lest unbelievers question the existence of our God. 

Questions: 

• Are you ready to believe and to accept whatever the Lord says, even if it contradicts what you believe or want? 
• Do you look for opportunities to do good works? 

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