What Day Is It?
Opening Prayer
Dear God, I remember the good times and the bad. Through it all You, Loving Lord, have provided all I need. I praise You!
Read Joel 2:1-11
[1] Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand- [2] a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come. [3] Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste- nothing escapes them. [4] They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. [5] With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. [6] At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. [7] They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. [8] They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. [9] They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows. [10] Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. [11] The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does the prophet describe the "day of the Lord"?Once again, Joel doesn’t spare our feelings. This passage reads rather like a horror story with this terrible, avenging, apocalyptic army laying waste to the land. But who is Joel describing in this chapter? Is he still talking about the locusts? Or is he talking about another threat, maybe the invading army of a foreign power? Commentators take different views. Maybe Joel had both in mind, using one as an illustration of the other. We don’t have to decide. But we do need to know that the Lord’s hand is behind this devastation. Joel doesn’t hesitate to call this invading force “his army” (11). Joel talks twice about this event as “the day of the Lord” (1,11). We find this phrase elsewhere in the Bible, but it’s particularly important to Joel. The “day” is a day of crisis and of great spiritual significance: a day that God uses to exercise his judgment–and indeed to bring about his salvation. A memorable day if ever there was one.
Apply
The “Day of the Lord.” What images does that conjure up in your mind? Are you prepared for whatever comes?
Closing prayer
Loving God, You are the One whose plans will become reality. By Your mighty hand make me equal to any task.
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