2026 Epiphany Devotions
Monday, February 16
Joel 2:1-2
1 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near—
2 a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains,
a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old,
nor will be again after them
in ages to come.
“… Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near—”
When I was youngster in Sunday school, it seemed as if the teacher’s job was to scare the heck out of her students. Over and over again, she’d explain how God was angry because of sin, and that one day Jesus would return to carry the “good children” into heaven and wreak havoc on the “bad ones”. As a kid listening to such teaching, I was often afraid of what God was going to do.
The prophet Joel seems to fit the kind of teaching those Sunday School teachers expressed. Beware of the day of the Lord. Tremble before the Lord for God’s wrath is upon you. The Lord is come, is very near, watch out. Be good little children or God will get you.
Thankfully, over the years, I have come to understand such Scriptures in a less frightening way. I now recognized that Joel, like many of the other prophets, is warning the people that they have erred, turned away from the Lord. Yes. Of course, there are adverse consequences to sinful behavior; but God is not “out to get you”.
Instead, like a loving parent who knows the dangers of the world warns their children, so too our Lord is offering a warning to us. Rather than being “out to get us”, God is for us, wanting us to know and love God, and desiring the best for lives now and always. Rather than fear, God is encouraging faith and trust, reminding us that we are loved. Do not fear, only believe.
Prayer: Gracious God, you lovingly sent Your prophets to warn us about the consequences of our sin. Remind me of Your mercy and love so that, rather than fear, I walk each day in faith and trust. Amen.