Rend your hearts
Day 453, Friday, Nov. 7
Joel
Joel places his prophesy after the fall of Jerusalem. In 1:6 we read, “A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness.”
Joel’s prophecies follow familiar lines, but the book is best known for a couple of specific passages.
Beginning in 2:12 is a passage we normally use on Ash Wednesday reminding us that God wants internal, not merely external, repentance:
“‘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.”
Another well known passage from Joel is quoted by Peter in his first sermon in the book of Acts after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Friday meditation

Psalms 22:19-24
But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

Prayer focus
Pour out your Spirit on your sons and daughters, Lord.