Sanctify A Fast! Time To Take Action!

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 greatness of the national trespass to stand weeping and praying between the porch and the altar. It was here in the open court that the priests, with his face toward the inner court and the altar, 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 people 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, breathe upon us once again creating in us new life! Send your fire among us, stirring these dry bones to rise up like a mighty army! May the Holy Spirit set us ablaze that we will never be the same. Change us, Lord! Make us living examples of what you will do in a surrendered life. Make us instruments of your salvation. Sanctify A Fast! Time To Take Action! (continued)