Tag: blow the trumpet
Once–for all!
Scripture reading for February 28th: Leviticus 24-25, Psalm 81, Hebrews 9
Hebrews 9:24-28 “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood, not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.”
The old covenant had this interesting provision for the year of Jubilee, when at the end of forty-nine years, on the day of Atonement, a trumpet was to be sounded and the Lord decreed liberty and restoration of all property and relationships. This was in the Law, but was never really enacted. But in Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice and the new covenant, He has become our Jubilee! In Him we have our sins forgiven. In Him we have relationship with God and others restored! In Him we await our full restoration at the resurrection at the last trumpet! In Him we have eternal inheritance and full reward! We eagerly await a Savior, Christ Jesus our Lord!
Leviticus 25:8-10 “You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years. Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and to his clan.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our Jubilee! In You we have full pardon, redemption from sin’s power and penalty, and an inheritance in Father’s House forever! We rejoice at Your great goodness and mercy and that You remember our sins no more! You are our Strength and Joy! Amen!
Psalm 81:1-3 “Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.”
Blow the trumpet!
Scripture reading for December 11th: Hosea 14, Joel 1-2, Revelation 9
Key Scriptures: Revelation 9:18, 20-21 “By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths”. . . . “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
In John’s vision, the sixth angel blew his trumpet and four bound angels were released near the great Euphrates river. The fact that they were bound implies that they were under God’s judgment and control. Their task was to initiate a judgment on earth that would kill a third of earth’s population. This was done by fire, smoke and sulfur. After a third were killed, the rest of earth’s inhabitants still did not repent of idolatry or immorality and other terrible sins against God and man.
Joel 2:1-2 “Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!”
Prayer: Lord Almighty, help me to sound the alarm and share the good news of a way of salvation for all mankind who will repent. I know that this day is coming, for Your word is true! Amen.
The Valley of Decision
Scripture reading for September 11th: Joel 1-3
Joel spoke to Israel during a time of natural disaster. A swarm of locusts had invaded Israel and was devouring their crops. (Joel 1:4) Joel saw in this locust plague a picture of another coming judgment on the nation. An army from the north was coming to bring God’s judgment. This time of coming judgment was called “the day of the Lord”. (Joel 1:15, 2:1,11 31, 3:14)
Joel called the people to fast and pray for God’s mercy. God gives grace to the humble and if God’s people will humble themselves and pray and seek His face, turning from their wicked ways, He will hear from heaven and heal their land. (2nd Chronicles 7:14) “Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.” (Joel 1:14-15)
Desperate times call for passionate intercession and heart-felt repentance! “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend you hearts 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.” (Joel 2:12-13) God will always respond to a people who are demonstrating a genuine repentance. God has been known to change His mind about judgment when His people call out. He even responds when Gentiles call on Him, as the book of Jonah demonstrates!
Joel also saw God gathering the nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment concerning how they treated His inheritance. There would be a great army gathered there and God would sit in judgment. ” “Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow–so great is their wickedness!” Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:13-14) Many think of this verse as viewing the people who have opportunity to decide for the Lord. That is not the case! These people have decided against God and God is making His decision to judge them! This is a place to avoid by repentance!