Today's Daily Lesson comes from Ezekiel Joel chapter 2 verses 12 through 16a:
12 Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord, your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
The Prophet Joel speaks of the "Valley of Decision". This is a moment when, even as the Israelites near the precipice of destruction, there is still hope for a change in course, and the promise of the salvation for the nation.
"Blow the trumpet . . .
Call a solemn assembly;
Gather the people".
Joel calls for a mandate. He calls for the people to come together and pray, and to decide and to declare who they want to be.
The old course has brought them to the brink of destruction. "Yet even now," with "fasting, and weeping, and mourning", a new path is possible, if they would humble themselves, and rend their hearts with repentance.
It is the Valley of Decision.
And the people are being summoned.
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we begin the Book of the Prophet Daniel, chapters 1-3.
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