Call of the Trumpet

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 (Pew Bible 645)" 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— 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 of old nor ever will be in ages to come."

" “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”"

Introduction

When the trumpet blew in Zion, all the people knew something important was happening. Sometimes it was an alarm, signaling impending disaster. Other times it was call to gather before God. The tone and pattern of the call determined this.

Israel's Response

Israel had suffered a series of disasters as a result of their disobedience. Now God was calling them to repentance. What else could they do after suffering so many disasters, but draw near to God in faith? But they were not to repent in the typical fashion, with tearing of clothes, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. No, the prophet Joel called upon them to tear open their hearts.

Likewise, in this time of economic disaster... in this time when we remember those who were lost in the plane crash... in this time when we perhaps have forgotten the military personnel that give their lives for us each day in Afghanistan and Iraq... a time that impacts some of us directly, and many of us more indirectly... What else are we to do? Have we been so utterly faithful to the Lord? Have we been the best of stewards with all that He has given us? Have we somehow contributed to all that is going on around us? The Word tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NIV). No, there is none of us innocent.

Conclusion

What, then, does Joel's trumpet called us, the people of God, to do?

to return with all our heart, with

fasting
weeping
mourning

to tear open your heart
to declare a holy fast
to gather for a sacred and consecrated assembly
to gather everyone

elders
children
babies

to stop celebrating, instead

let all the leaders of our churches weep and pray

while standing in the gap between God and His people

Give the Invitation to Observe Lenten Discipline