The Day of the Lord is Coming Near

This meditation is based on a passage for November 9, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Joel 1:15-2:2

Reflection and Question: The “day of the Lord” is a common phrase in the Old Testament prophets. It indicates a moment of God’s clear intervention in the world in some way, often destruction in response to human sin. Here in Joel the means of trouble are natural: drought and locusts. They are, nevertheless, the hand of God upon the people and the land. Joel wants to impress upon us that God is in charge and will not be mocked. When joy and gladness is rare in the house of God, we do well to look to ourselves and reform our ways. Where do you see signs of the day of the Lord?

Prayer: Spare us, eternal and most loving God, from the power of Your justified anger against us. Though we deserve it, do not bring upon us the destruction of all we hold dear and all we have built. Regard not our sins, but the faith of the church. Amen.