"Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." (Joel 2:12)
“Blow 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 is coming, For it is at hand: A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the mourning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations.
A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them. Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run. With a noise like chariots over mountaintops they leap, like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.
Before them the people writhe in pain; All faces are drained of color. They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, and they do not break ranks. They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column [literally, his own highway]. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down [halted by losses]. They run to and fro in the city, they run on the wall; They climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief.
The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it?” (Joel 2:1-11)
“ Every knee shall bow before You, Lord of mercy we adore You. You are the Everlasting Light” sings.
The immediate reference was to the Babylonian captivity [1]. The people had been warned of coming jugment by Jeremiah but refused to believe the warnings and repent. They thought there would be continued peace and safety. God used the army of Babylonian to bring forth his judgment on his people for forsaking Him. The people of Israel were taken into captivity for 70 years.
Jeremiah prophesied in Jer. 4:19-29, “O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried, for the whole land is plundered... For My people are foolish, the have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge... “The whole land shall be desolate; Yet I will not make a full end. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black, because I have spoken. I have purposed and will not relent, nor will I turn back form it. The whole city shall flee from the noise of the horsemen and bowmen. They shall go into thickets and climb up on the rocks. Every city shall be forsaken, and not a man shall dwell in it.”
While the immediate reference was to Babylonian captivity, the complete fulfillment is still in the future at the time of the Lord's returning [2].
Commentary mentions, “Darkness is used as a figure for misery, distress, and judgment (see Is. 8:22; 60:2; Jer. 13:16).” [3] Another commentary notes, “It is the day of the Lord, the day of his judgment, in which he will both manifest and magnify himself. It is a day of darkness and gloominess (v. 2), literally so, the swarms of locusts and caterpillars being so large and so thick as to darken the sky (Ex. 10:15), or rather figuratively; it will be a melancholy time, a time of grievous affliction. And it will come as the morning spread upon the mountains; the darkness of this day will come as suddenly as the morning light, as irresistibly, will spread as far, and grow upon them as the morning light.” [4]
As commentary goes on to mention, “The invasion that Joel prophetically envisioned was like a raging fire that transformed all that was beautiful into desolation.” People writhed in pain and lost all their strength and hope from the terror of this invasion. Commentary goes on to note, “The invading armies were locustlike in number and in their ability to penetrate any defense; but like men of war, they bring fear and death with them... References to the sun, moon, and stars growing dim allude to a future outpouring of divine wrath (see Is. 13:10; Matt. 24:29; Rev. 6:12, 13).” [5]
Amos also talks about the outpouring of divine wrath in the Day of the Lord because the people had turned from God and were depriving the poor from justice. They were oppressing the poor and crushing the needy while drinking in their own gain (Amos 4:1).
Amos 5:16-20 says, “Therefore the Lord of God of hosts, the Lord says this: 'There shall be wailing in all streets, and they shall say in all the highways, 'Alas! Alas!' They shall call the farmer to mourning, and the skillful lamenters to wailing. In all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through you,' Says the Lord. Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his and on the wall, and the serpent bit him! Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?”
The trumpet was blown and an alarm was sounded in the land. The trumpet blast in this case gave warning of the approach of impending judgment. [6] [a] Amos 3:6 says, “Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?” And Revelation 8:13 says, “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”
Blowing the trumpet meant that there was an opportunity to repent. Ezekiel proclaims in verses 33:2-5, “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.”
Joel goes on to call the people to repentance and fasting in Joel 2:12-19,
“'Now, therefore,' says the Lord, 'Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.' So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him -a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?
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?'
Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, 'Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.'”
Whenever the 'trumpet of warning' has sounded about impending disaster and the people have fasted, repented and sought God, He has relented and shifted their circumstances.
An example is Jonah. Jonah was the trumpet of warning to the people of Nineveh. After running from his call, getting swallowed by a whale and then repenting, he was vomited out onto dry land and arose and cried out in warning to the people. Jonah walked the three day journey through the city crying out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” (Jonah 3:4)
Jonah 3:5 says, “So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.” The king published a decree saying, “Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that was in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” (Jonah 3:7b-9)
God was quick to relent and show mercy. Jonah 3:10 says, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented form the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”
Jonah knew that God was quick to relent and show mercy whenever someone repented, no matter who they were or how bad was their sin. After they were spared he was angry at God and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” (Jonah 4:2)
Both in Jonah 3:5 and in Joel 2:15 when the people were facing impending judgment disaster, a corporate fast and repentance for sin was called. Another example is in 1 Samuel 7:1-17 when Samuel called the Israelites to corporate fasting and repentance for their sin when the Philistines were coming against them.
Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel in 1 Samuel 7:3-6, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.' So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. And Samuel said, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.' So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that day, and said there, 'We have sinned against the Lord.' And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.”
In 1 Samuel 7:10-11 says, “Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car.”
In the times of Nehemiah, when the people were preparing to enter into a signed covenant with God, committing themselves to the statutes and ways of the Lord, they also entered into a period of corporate fasting and repentance.
Nehemiah 9:1-3 says, “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God.”
A corporate fast was also called in Esther to seek God's deliverance from the hand of the enemy. Esther told Mordecai in Esther 4:16, “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
The result was that Esther had great favor with the king and God shifted circumstances on her and Mordecai's behalf, sparing her people and putting an end to their enemy. The king told Esther and Mordecai in Esther 8:7-8, “Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke.”
Jehoshaphat and his people were also spared because they fasted and cried out to God. Commentary notes about this, “King Jehoshaphat of Judah handled a major national crisis the way any great leader should: by leading his people to God in prayer [and fasting]." [7]
Jehoshaphat was told that a great multitude was coming against them. 2 Chronicles 20:3 says, “And Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”
The Lord told them through a prophet in 2 Chronicles 20:17, “'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.'”
Ezra also called a corporate fast to seek God's hand of protection for safe passage in their return home to Jerusalem. He called the people to fast for protection against potential harm of the enemy when him and many Israelites gathered to return to return to Jerusalem.
Ezra said in Ezra 8:21-23 as he gathered the people to return, “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, 'The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.' So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”
And in Acts 27:1-32, Paul and the crew of the ship he was on were spared from destruction after fasting and putting their trust in God. Paul was heading to Rome as a prisoner on the ship of Adramyttium, and the people who had sailed with Paul refused to listen to him to stop and winter in rather than press forward in the contrary winds. The result was disastrous as the ship became storm tossed. Paul said in Acts 27:20, “Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”
Paul promised them that God spoke to him that God would grant them their lives but they would need to run aground on an island. On the fourteenth night, as they were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, they dropped anchor fearing they would run aground on rocks. Several sailors were seeking to escape on the skiff when Paul said to the centurion and the soldier, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” “Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.” (Acts 27:31-32).
Near dawn, Paul implored the crew to take food after himself and the crew had abstained food for many days. He told them in Acts 27:33-34, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.”
Just before the break of dawn, they all broke bread together and gave thanks to God and were encouraged. When it was day, just as Paul had spoken, they ran the ship aground and all of them escaped safely to land. [b]
“Your love, oh Lord reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness stretches to the sky, and Your righteousness is like the mighty mountain, Your justice flows like the ocean's tides” sings.
I had a dream a few weeks ago that was really sad. In my dream, suicides were significantly increasing. And in my dream I saw a mother of a daughter who had committed suicide then committed suicide herself. I felt it was not specific to this mother and daughter, but that more family members of suicide victims were even taking their lives. It was a very grieving dream to my heart and left me feeling unsettled.
Oddly enough, the speaker at the conference I was attending (Passion for Jesus at the International House of Prayer) in that next morning session, Shelley Hundley, shared her testimony about attempting suicide. She had been molested when she was young by a religious leader and carried a great deal of bitterness, pain and anger about it. In her anger, she had encouraged three other young ladies who had been molested as well by him to commit suicide as she planned to do.
In the next few months, all of them had attempted suicide in some way. Fortunately, she was saved shortly after and turned her life around. After sharing her testimony, she prayed for all those who were holding onto pain and unforgiveness about an injustice done to them. She had them call out to God as their Righteous Judge.
That weekend, when I went to the Saturday night prayer meeting for the Twin Cities that I usually attend, there was also a young man who mentioned to all of us that there had been an increase in suicides in his home town and asked us to pray about this.
The next week I had another dream that was more specific. In this dream I was following a young woman home from school. I was with her but she could not see me. She was a beautiful young lady. For whatever reason, she was being picked on all the way home from school. When she got home, she left all her stuff at the door and went in. I came up to the door and saw her stuff with blood sprinkled on it, like she had been cutting. I could not enter into the house but knew in my heart that she had went inside to commit suicide.
I began crying out to God in my sleep for justice for her all night long. It felt so real. When I woke up, I felt grieved, unsettled and afraid. What I felt God speak to me all morning was to not be afraid and that He a hold on me. I felt what He was speaking was that what I saw in my dreams was not settled but could be shifted.
My heart is still incredibly grieved whenever I think of this young lady from my dream. I deeply long for her to live life. These dreams may have just been bad dreams. But it doesn't settle with me as something to disregard. What if there is a possibility these dreams could be true?
And what if corporate prayer and fasting could shift something? What about if just like it has in the past, corporate prayer, fasting, and repentance could change circumstances.
What if, as with Ezra, we humble ourselves before our God, and seek from Him protection and perseverance from the enemy for us and all our young people? In God's great love and mercy, what if corporate prayer and fasting could shift the circumstance of one young lady's life in some way so that she has a life rather than death? And what if it changed more than just one young person's life as it did in the time of Esther? What if it could shift it, giving safe passage, for all our young people and all else who needs it?
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” [c]
My clock read 3:33 as “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face” sings in the background.
In the time of Esther, the people were not only spared their life by the king as the result of their corporate prayer and fasting, but they were also given permission to deal with their enemies who would come against them in any way they saw fit.
A decree when out sealed by the king the permitted the Jews to kill and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them. They did this on the thirteen day of the month, then again on the fourteenth day of the month (Esther 9:15). Then they rested and had a feast (Esther 9:17).
In the last days, God's people are to be His army, actively engaged in bringing forth His kingdom purposes, taking the territory from the enemy -just as the Israelites were when they fought to possess the Promised Land. We are, like the Babylonian army, to be His strong people set in battle array, like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble. (Joel 2:5).
Obadiah 15,17-18 says, “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head... But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,' For the Lord has spoken.”
Jesus has "eyes... like a flame of fire" in His passion for us and deep love. And Song of Song 7:6 says about the love between the bride and the Bridegroom, "Its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame." Perhaps Obediah is speaking of our passion for Jesus demonstrated in love for our brother in the end times kindling our brother's hearts in passion for Him as well, burning up all that is stubble (based upon religion or tradition).
David proclaims in Psalm 144:1, “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” And in Psalm 18:29 says, “For you I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.”
Just as the Babylon army, each one marches in battle array on his own highway – the highway of holiness. However, instead of bringing destruction and fear, as God's people we are to bring hope, strengthening those who are fearful-hearted and bringing life to all we touch (Isaiah 35). And the commander of this army, is the Lord.
“The deliverer has come, it's the Bridegroom come. And Your glory will cover the earth, like the waters cover the sea” sings.
Revelation 19:11-19 says, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and His though a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, 'Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.' And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”
Lord, we look to You for direction, guidance, and leadership. You are the Lamb of God who sacrificed Your life so that ours would be spared. Would you be our Shepherd protect and guide us. Would you be our Commander to and lead and direct us. Be a shelter for us, especially all our young people. Let Your blood be on every doorpost.
a. The trumpet blast also signified the gathering of Isreal as God's army for war, to impose His judgment. [8] Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:8, “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”
And it was sounded when the army of Israel charged against it's enemies [9], bringing the Lord's judgment. [10] Numbers 10:9 says, “And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that opresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.”
For more information on reasons for the trumpet blast, see "Trumpet" Located at: http://www.bible-topics.com/Trumpet.html. Last Accessed: 4/24/11
b. This passage has some similarities to passover, which was on the 14th day of the month, where the people who put their trust in God were spared their lives. Numbers 28:16-17 says: "In the first month on the 14th day of the month is Adonai's Pesach (Passover). On the 15th day of the month is to be a feast."
c. Do we need to repent? If so, of what? Perhaps for not meeting the needs of the poor as the body of Christ. Just as in the times of Amos, the poor are being more and more crushed with the state of the economy. As we have experienced economic downturn and state funding cuts, there is less and less funding available to support the poor while medical costs continue to increase. At the same time, most non-profit organizations have experienced downturns in funding to support the poor.
d. For more scripture references on fasting, see "Fasting: A Study in the Scriptures" by Diane S. Dew. Located at: http://www.dianedew.com/fasting.htm. Last Accessed: 4/24/11
1-2. MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Joe 2:1
3. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Joe 2:2
4, 6, 8-10. Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody : Hendrickson, 1996, c1991, S. Joe 2:1
5. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Joe 2:3
7. Maxwell, John. The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Second Edition. NKJV. Lessons in Leadership from the Word of God. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, Tennessee. 2007.
A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them. Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run. With a noise like chariots over mountaintops they leap, like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.
Before them the people writhe in pain; All faces are drained of color. They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, and they do not break ranks. They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column [literally, his own highway]. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down [halted by losses]. They run to and fro in the city, they run on the wall; They climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief.
The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it?” (Joel 2:1-11)
“ Every knee shall bow before You, Lord of mercy we adore You. You are the Everlasting Light” sings.
The immediate reference was to the Babylonian captivity [1]. The people had been warned of coming jugment by Jeremiah but refused to believe the warnings and repent. They thought there would be continued peace and safety. God used the army of Babylonian to bring forth his judgment on his people for forsaking Him. The people of Israel were taken into captivity for 70 years.
Jeremiah prophesied in Jer. 4:19-29, “O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried, for the whole land is plundered... For My people are foolish, the have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge... “The whole land shall be desolate; Yet I will not make a full end. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black, because I have spoken. I have purposed and will not relent, nor will I turn back form it. The whole city shall flee from the noise of the horsemen and bowmen. They shall go into thickets and climb up on the rocks. Every city shall be forsaken, and not a man shall dwell in it.”
While the immediate reference was to Babylonian captivity, the complete fulfillment is still in the future at the time of the Lord's returning [2].
Commentary mentions, “Darkness is used as a figure for misery, distress, and judgment (see Is. 8:22; 60:2; Jer. 13:16).” [3] Another commentary notes, “It is the day of the Lord, the day of his judgment, in which he will both manifest and magnify himself. It is a day of darkness and gloominess (v. 2), literally so, the swarms of locusts and caterpillars being so large and so thick as to darken the sky (Ex. 10:15), or rather figuratively; it will be a melancholy time, a time of grievous affliction. And it will come as the morning spread upon the mountains; the darkness of this day will come as suddenly as the morning light, as irresistibly, will spread as far, and grow upon them as the morning light.” [4]
As commentary goes on to mention, “The invasion that Joel prophetically envisioned was like a raging fire that transformed all that was beautiful into desolation.” People writhed in pain and lost all their strength and hope from the terror of this invasion. Commentary goes on to note, “The invading armies were locustlike in number and in their ability to penetrate any defense; but like men of war, they bring fear and death with them... References to the sun, moon, and stars growing dim allude to a future outpouring of divine wrath (see Is. 13:10; Matt. 24:29; Rev. 6:12, 13).” [5]
Amos also talks about the outpouring of divine wrath in the Day of the Lord because the people had turned from God and were depriving the poor from justice. They were oppressing the poor and crushing the needy while drinking in their own gain (Amos 4:1).
Amos 5:16-20 says, “Therefore the Lord of God of hosts, the Lord says this: 'There shall be wailing in all streets, and they shall say in all the highways, 'Alas! Alas!' They shall call the farmer to mourning, and the skillful lamenters to wailing. In all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through you,' Says the Lord. Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his and on the wall, and the serpent bit him! Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?”
The trumpet was blown and an alarm was sounded in the land. The trumpet blast in this case gave warning of the approach of impending judgment. [6] [a] Amos 3:6 says, “Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?” And Revelation 8:13 says, “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”
Blowing the trumpet meant that there was an opportunity to repent. Ezekiel proclaims in verses 33:2-5, “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.”
Joel goes on to call the people to repentance and fasting in Joel 2:12-19,
“'Now, therefore,' says the Lord, 'Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.' So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him -a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?
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?'
Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, 'Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.'”
Whenever the 'trumpet of warning' has sounded about impending disaster and the people have fasted, repented and sought God, He has relented and shifted their circumstances.
An example is Jonah. Jonah was the trumpet of warning to the people of Nineveh. After running from his call, getting swallowed by a whale and then repenting, he was vomited out onto dry land and arose and cried out in warning to the people. Jonah walked the three day journey through the city crying out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” (Jonah 3:4)
Jonah 3:5 says, “So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.” The king published a decree saying, “Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that was in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” (Jonah 3:7b-9)
God was quick to relent and show mercy. Jonah 3:10 says, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented form the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”
Jonah knew that God was quick to relent and show mercy whenever someone repented, no matter who they were or how bad was their sin. After they were spared he was angry at God and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” (Jonah 4:2)
Both in Jonah 3:5 and in Joel 2:15 when the people were facing impending judgment disaster, a corporate fast and repentance for sin was called. Another example is in 1 Samuel 7:1-17 when Samuel called the Israelites to corporate fasting and repentance for their sin when the Philistines were coming against them.
Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel in 1 Samuel 7:3-6, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.' So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. And Samuel said, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.' So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that day, and said there, 'We have sinned against the Lord.' And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.”
In 1 Samuel 7:10-11 says, “Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car.”
In the times of Nehemiah, when the people were preparing to enter into a signed covenant with God, committing themselves to the statutes and ways of the Lord, they also entered into a period of corporate fasting and repentance.
Nehemiah 9:1-3 says, “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God.”
A corporate fast was also called in Esther to seek God's deliverance from the hand of the enemy. Esther told Mordecai in Esther 4:16, “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
The result was that Esther had great favor with the king and God shifted circumstances on her and Mordecai's behalf, sparing her people and putting an end to their enemy. The king told Esther and Mordecai in Esther 8:7-8, “Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke.”
Jehoshaphat and his people were also spared because they fasted and cried out to God. Commentary notes about this, “King Jehoshaphat of Judah handled a major national crisis the way any great leader should: by leading his people to God in prayer [and fasting]." [7]
Jehoshaphat was told that a great multitude was coming against them. 2 Chronicles 20:3 says, “And Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”
The Lord told them through a prophet in 2 Chronicles 20:17, “'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.'”
Ezra also called a corporate fast to seek God's hand of protection for safe passage in their return home to Jerusalem. He called the people to fast for protection against potential harm of the enemy when him and many Israelites gathered to return to return to Jerusalem.
Ezra said in Ezra 8:21-23 as he gathered the people to return, “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, 'The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.' So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”
And in Acts 27:1-32, Paul and the crew of the ship he was on were spared from destruction after fasting and putting their trust in God. Paul was heading to Rome as a prisoner on the ship of Adramyttium, and the people who had sailed with Paul refused to listen to him to stop and winter in rather than press forward in the contrary winds. The result was disastrous as the ship became storm tossed. Paul said in Acts 27:20, “Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”
Paul promised them that God spoke to him that God would grant them their lives but they would need to run aground on an island. On the fourteenth night, as they were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, they dropped anchor fearing they would run aground on rocks. Several sailors were seeking to escape on the skiff when Paul said to the centurion and the soldier, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” “Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.” (Acts 27:31-32).
Near dawn, Paul implored the crew to take food after himself and the crew had abstained food for many days. He told them in Acts 27:33-34, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.”
Just before the break of dawn, they all broke bread together and gave thanks to God and were encouraged. When it was day, just as Paul had spoken, they ran the ship aground and all of them escaped safely to land. [b]
“Your love, oh Lord reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness stretches to the sky, and Your righteousness is like the mighty mountain, Your justice flows like the ocean's tides” sings.
I had a dream a few weeks ago that was really sad. In my dream, suicides were significantly increasing. And in my dream I saw a mother of a daughter who had committed suicide then committed suicide herself. I felt it was not specific to this mother and daughter, but that more family members of suicide victims were even taking their lives. It was a very grieving dream to my heart and left me feeling unsettled.
Oddly enough, the speaker at the conference I was attending (Passion for Jesus at the International House of Prayer) in that next morning session, Shelley Hundley, shared her testimony about attempting suicide. She had been molested when she was young by a religious leader and carried a great deal of bitterness, pain and anger about it. In her anger, she had encouraged three other young ladies who had been molested as well by him to commit suicide as she planned to do.
In the next few months, all of them had attempted suicide in some way. Fortunately, she was saved shortly after and turned her life around. After sharing her testimony, she prayed for all those who were holding onto pain and unforgiveness about an injustice done to them. She had them call out to God as their Righteous Judge.
That weekend, when I went to the Saturday night prayer meeting for the Twin Cities that I usually attend, there was also a young man who mentioned to all of us that there had been an increase in suicides in his home town and asked us to pray about this.
The next week I had another dream that was more specific. In this dream I was following a young woman home from school. I was with her but she could not see me. She was a beautiful young lady. For whatever reason, she was being picked on all the way home from school. When she got home, she left all her stuff at the door and went in. I came up to the door and saw her stuff with blood sprinkled on it, like she had been cutting. I could not enter into the house but knew in my heart that she had went inside to commit suicide.
I began crying out to God in my sleep for justice for her all night long. It felt so real. When I woke up, I felt grieved, unsettled and afraid. What I felt God speak to me all morning was to not be afraid and that He a hold on me. I felt what He was speaking was that what I saw in my dreams was not settled but could be shifted.
My heart is still incredibly grieved whenever I think of this young lady from my dream. I deeply long for her to live life. These dreams may have just been bad dreams. But it doesn't settle with me as something to disregard. What if there is a possibility these dreams could be true?
And what if corporate prayer and fasting could shift something? What about if just like it has in the past, corporate prayer, fasting, and repentance could change circumstances.
What if, as with Ezra, we humble ourselves before our God, and seek from Him protection and perseverance from the enemy for us and all our young people? In God's great love and mercy, what if corporate prayer and fasting could shift the circumstance of one young lady's life in some way so that she has a life rather than death? And what if it changed more than just one young person's life as it did in the time of Esther? What if it could shift it, giving safe passage, for all our young people and all else who needs it?
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” [c]
My clock read 3:33 as “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face” sings in the background.
In the time of Esther, the people were not only spared their life by the king as the result of their corporate prayer and fasting, but they were also given permission to deal with their enemies who would come against them in any way they saw fit.
A decree when out sealed by the king the permitted the Jews to kill and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them. They did this on the thirteen day of the month, then again on the fourteenth day of the month (Esther 9:15). Then they rested and had a feast (Esther 9:17).
In the last days, God's people are to be His army, actively engaged in bringing forth His kingdom purposes, taking the territory from the enemy -just as the Israelites were when they fought to possess the Promised Land. We are, like the Babylonian army, to be His strong people set in battle array, like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble. (Joel 2:5).
Obadiah 15,17-18 says, “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head... But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,' For the Lord has spoken.”
Jesus has "eyes... like a flame of fire" in His passion for us and deep love. And Song of Song 7:6 says about the love between the bride and the Bridegroom, "Its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame." Perhaps Obediah is speaking of our passion for Jesus demonstrated in love for our brother in the end times kindling our brother's hearts in passion for Him as well, burning up all that is stubble (based upon religion or tradition).
David proclaims in Psalm 144:1, “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” And in Psalm 18:29 says, “For you I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.”
Just as the Babylon army, each one marches in battle array on his own highway – the highway of holiness. However, instead of bringing destruction and fear, as God's people we are to bring hope, strengthening those who are fearful-hearted and bringing life to all we touch (Isaiah 35). And the commander of this army, is the Lord.
“The deliverer has come, it's the Bridegroom come. And Your glory will cover the earth, like the waters cover the sea” sings.
Revelation 19:11-19 says, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and His though a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, 'Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.' And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”
Lord, we look to You for direction, guidance, and leadership. You are the Lamb of God who sacrificed Your life so that ours would be spared. Would you be our Shepherd protect and guide us. Would you be our Commander to and lead and direct us. Be a shelter for us, especially all our young people. Let Your blood be on every doorpost.
a. The trumpet blast also signified the gathering of Isreal as God's army for war, to impose His judgment. [8] Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:8, “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”
And it was sounded when the army of Israel charged against it's enemies [9], bringing the Lord's judgment. [10] Numbers 10:9 says, “And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that opresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.”
For more information on reasons for the trumpet blast, see "Trumpet" Located at: http://www.bible-topics.com/Trumpet.html. Last Accessed: 4/24/11
b. This passage has some similarities to passover, which was on the 14th day of the month, where the people who put their trust in God were spared their lives. Numbers 28:16-17 says: "In the first month on the 14th day of the month is Adonai's Pesach (Passover). On the 15th day of the month is to be a feast."
c. Do we need to repent? If so, of what? Perhaps for not meeting the needs of the poor as the body of Christ. Just as in the times of Amos, the poor are being more and more crushed with the state of the economy. As we have experienced economic downturn and state funding cuts, there is less and less funding available to support the poor while medical costs continue to increase. At the same time, most non-profit organizations have experienced downturns in funding to support the poor.
d. For more scripture references on fasting, see "Fasting: A Study in the Scriptures" by Diane S. Dew. Located at: http://www.dianedew.com/fasting.htm. Last Accessed: 4/24/11
1-2. MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Joe 2:1
3. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Joe 2:2
4, 6, 8-10. Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody : Hendrickson, 1996, c1991, S. Joe 2:1
5. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Joe 2:3
7. Maxwell, John. The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Second Edition. NKJV. Lessons in Leadership from the Word of God. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, Tennessee. 2007.
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