Joel 2:15, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16.Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?"
Joel repeated the call of 2:1. The difference here is a call to national repentance to be performed in a national gathering of all the people before God. The priests were to proclaim a day of humiliation for all the people regardless of age or distinction. Joel summons all ranks and classes to assemble in the Temple for this solemn service.
Sanctify the people! The people were to prepare themselves for this solemn time. Under the Law, they were to wash themselves and their clothes. They were commanded to cleanse themselves from all legal impurities, to have offered sacrifice for all transgressions of the Law. To be obedient was to be purged and made worthy to be presented before the Lord in His house.
Assemble the elders, children, babies. No one should be excluded. Even the bride and the bridegroom were to delay their festivities for this solemn assembly. Everything must stop and all attention to focus on the Lord of glory.
The priests, the ministers of the Lord were commanded to take the lead in this sacred work of penitence. They are compelled by the great of the national trespass to stand weeping and praying between the porch and the alter. It was here in the open court that the priests, with his face toward the inner court and the alter, that he turned his petition toward God in supplication for the sins of the people.
As I read this text today, I cannot help but think what would happen if God's ministers would approach God with the same intensity as was required here. Such fervency that would drive us all to our knees in convulsed groans of agony for the needs of the lost and Christ's Church alike. I am reminded of Jesus' encounter with the weight of His destiny as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Luke 22:44. Is not our destiny just a relevant. He (Christ) has given us as the Body of Christ the urgent task to carry the message of deliverance to all creation. Do we not languish in such a state of national trespass in desperate need of the sacred work of penitence. God help us to fall helplessly into His embrace and become an example and instrument of His salvation and deliverance. God send your fire among us. May the Holy Spirit set us ablaze that we will never be the same. Change us Lord into what you desire us to become. Make us instruments of your salvation.
My cry is that God would put us in a place of remorse where we can identify with the utter hopelessness and struggle of the present human condition. Jesus looked upon the crowds that followed him and was moved with compassion because they were sheep without a shepherd. Help us Lord Jesus to look upon mankind with the same love, the same concern, the same intervention reflected in your example before us. The lost of the world are condemned to death without hearing and accepting the good news of Jesus' saving grace.
And what about the Church, the Body of Christ? Joel's cry was to the elect, the chosen of God, His beloved. We must sound the alarm in Zion. Can we truly feel that we have obeyed God completely when there is such a great need in the Church. A need for our alters to be filled with saint and sinner alike seeking God for divine revelation and divine intervention. Haven't we realized by now that we cannot pilot this ship without Him. We need and must have a fresh wind of Holy Ghost power. We must return to Pentecost and receive anew the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. Then we can become actively engaged in the harvest of eternal souls.
Let us all cry out with the priests of God, "Spare the people, Oh Lord..." Joel's petition was to entreat God to deliver His people, not because they deserved it but for His own glory. Lord restore your reputation in your Church. Let it be said that the Lord of Glory dwells among His people.
God's presence among His people struck fear in the hearts of their enemies. They trembled in fear because they had learned that God secured the victory. They could not win against the Lord God of Israel. When Israel followed God they could not be defeated.
God's presence in the Church strikes fear into the heart of Satan. He trembles in fear in the presence of God. He is well acquainted with the power of almighty God. He knows when the Church follows God, we cannot be defeated. May God manifest Himself in the daily lives of each member of His Body. Through His abiding presence we will throw off the encumbrances that have silently crept in. Throw off the doubt that has slipped in due to a lack of seeing the manifestations of Christ's presence in the Church. Break the chains of oppression that have gripped us due to the lack of freedom in the Holy Ghost. Throw off the cloud of ignorance that has anesthetized us because of the lack of hearing a fresh Word from the Lord. Wake us O' Lord to the full measure of your truth. We will not be content with only the similitude of truth. Baptize us in your TRUTH. Immerse us in your personage. Let us everyone put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Sanctify the people! The people were to prepare themselves for this solemn time. Under the Law, they were to wash themselves and their clothes. They were commanded to cleanse themselves from all legal impurities, to have offered sacrifice for all transgressions of the Law. To be obedient was to be purged and made worthy to be presented before the Lord in His house.
Assemble the elders, children, babies. No one should be excluded. Even the bride and the bridegroom were to delay their festivities for this solemn assembly. Everything must stop and all attention to focus on the Lord of glory.
The priests, the ministers of the Lord were commanded to take the lead in this sacred work of penitence. They are compelled by the great of the national trespass to stand weeping and praying between the porch and the alter. It was here in the open court that the priests, with his face toward the inner court and the alter, that he turned his petition toward God in supplication for the sins of the people.
As I read this text today, I cannot help but think what would happen if God's ministers would approach God with the same intensity as was required here. Such fervency that would drive us all to our knees in convulsed groans of agony for the needs of the lost and Christ's Church alike. I am reminded of Jesus' encounter with the weight of His destiny as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Luke 22:44. Is not our destiny just a relevant. He (Christ) has given us as the Body of Christ the urgent task to carry the message of deliverance to all creation. Do we not languish in such a state of national trespass in desperate need of the sacred work of penitence. God help us to fall helplessly into His embrace and become an example and instrument of His salvation and deliverance. God send your fire among us. May the Holy Spirit set us ablaze that we will never be the same. Change us Lord into what you desire us to become. Make us instruments of your salvation.
My cry is that God would put us in a place of remorse where we can identify with the utter hopelessness and struggle of the present human condition. Jesus looked upon the crowds that followed him and was moved with compassion because they were sheep without a shepherd. Help us Lord Jesus to look upon mankind with the same love, the same concern, the same intervention reflected in your example before us. The lost of the world are condemned to death without hearing and accepting the good news of Jesus' saving grace.
And what about the Church, the Body of Christ? Joel's cry was to the elect, the chosen of God, His beloved. We must sound the alarm in Zion. Can we truly feel that we have obeyed God completely when there is such a great need in the Church. A need for our alters to be filled with saint and sinner alike seeking God for divine revelation and divine intervention. Haven't we realized by now that we cannot pilot this ship without Him. We need and must have a fresh wind of Holy Ghost power. We must return to Pentecost and receive anew the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. Then we can become actively engaged in the harvest of eternal souls.
Let us all cry out with the priests of God, "Spare the people, Oh Lord..." Joel's petition was to entreat God to deliver His people, not because they deserved it but for His own glory. Lord restore your reputation in your Church. Let it be said that the Lord of Glory dwells among His people.
God's presence among His people struck fear in the hearts of their enemies. They trembled in fear because they had learned that God secured the victory. They could not win against the Lord God of Israel. When Israel followed God they could not be defeated.
God's presence in the Church strikes fear into the heart of Satan. He trembles in fear in the presence of God. He is well acquainted with the power of almighty God. He knows when the Church follows God, we cannot be defeated. May God manifest Himself in the daily lives of each member of His Body. Through His abiding presence we will throw off the encumbrances that have silently crept in. Throw off the doubt that has slipped in due to a lack of seeing the manifestations of Christ's presence in the Church. Break the chains of oppression that have gripped us due to the lack of freedom in the Holy Ghost. Throw off the cloud of ignorance that has anesthetized us because of the lack of hearing a fresh Word from the Lord. Wake us O' Lord to the full measure of your truth. We will not be content with only the similitude of truth. Baptize us in your TRUTH. Immerse us in your personage. Let us everyone put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Please click in the comment area to leave your comment. Thanks
ReplyDelete