"Blow
ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the
inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh,
for it is nigh at hand;A day of darkness and
of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread
upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the
like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations'.
Joel 2:1-2
"Therefore also now, saith the Lord,
turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and
with mourning: And rend your heart,
and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your
God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and
repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and
leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your
God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn
assembly: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. 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 2:12-17
The prophet sounds a trumpet calling all the people from
infants to honeymooners to a solemn constructive assembly. It is time to return
to God with all one's heart. Fasting, weeping and mourning are appropriate as
we consider how we have strayed from God. As if to challenge our use of ashes,
the prophet calls worshipers to rend the heart, not their clothing. The point
is that outward rituals and actions can camouflage and hide unrepentant and
deceitful hearts. Don't fool others or yourself. The prophet proclaims that
such a turning around is not giving something up for Lent but discovering anew
the source of life in the gracious, merciful, slow to anger, steadfast love of
a blessing God
Peace be unto you
