Meditation: Joel 4:12 “Let the nations be roused and come up
to the Valley of Y’hoshafat [Adonai judges].
For there I will sit to judge
all the surrounding nations.”
13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe;
come, and tread, for the winepress is full.
The vats are overflowing,
for their wickedness is great.
14 Such enormous crowds
in the Valley of Decision!
For the Day of Adonai is upon us
in the Valley of Decision!
15 The sun and moon have grown black,
and the stars have stopped shining.
16 Adonai will roar from Tziyon,
he will thunder from Yerushalayim,
the sky and the earth will shake.
But Adonai will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Isra’el.
17 “You will know that I am Adonai your God,
living on Tziyon my holy mountain.”
Then Yerushalayim will be holy,
and foreigners will pass through her no more.
18 Then, when that time comes,
the mountains will drip with sweet wine,
the hills will flow with milk,
all the streambeds of Y’hudah will run with water,
and a spring will flow from the house of Adonai
to water the Sheetim Valley.
19 But Egypt will be desolate
and Edom a desert waste,
because of the violence done to the people of Y’hudah,
because they shed innocent blood in their land.
20 Y’hudah will be inhabited forever,
Yerushalayim through all generations.
21 “I will cleanse them of bloodguilt
which I have not yet cleansed,”
for Adonai is living in Tziyon.
Common of the Blessed Virgin MaryThe Lord roars from Zion. (Joel 4:16)
Today’s first reading presents us with a God who “roars” and “raises his voice,” a God who makes “the heavens and the earth quake” (Joel 4:16). It’s quite a frightening image, isn’t it? It almost makes you want to shy away from him.
But as terrifying as that image is, it takes up only one-half of one verse. The rest of the passage gives us a much more inspiring image! There, we see a God who is a “refuge,” a God who makes the mountains “drip new wine” and whose grace bubbles up like a “fountain” for his people (4:16, 18). Such beautiful images! So who is God roaring at?
Of course God isn’t roaring at us; he’s roaring at our spiritual enemies—the devil, the sin in the world, and our own fallen desires and temptations. God is so much more powerful than all of them. Just a simple roar, and they vanish, leaving us safe in his care.
The passage tells us that at the same time that he roars at our enemies, God makes himself a refuge for us. So rather than focusing on the terrifying roar, focus on the peaceful refuge. Try to recall some of the times the Lord has come through for you in a powerful way. Let these examples become a foundation for your thinking today: “I know that I can trust in the Lord! I believe that his ‘channels’ are flowing through me right now—life, power, peace, and refreshment (Joel 4:18). I know that God will give me victory over my enemies. Nothing can overpower him!”
We all face a host of challenges on a regular basis: challenges to our peace, to our faith, even to our health and safety. Isn’t it a comfort to know that you have such an ally as the Lord of Hosts? He is with you right now, scattering your enemies with his mighty voice and sheltering you from all that seeks to harm you. So flee to him for protection, guidance, and help! Ask him to deliver you and keep you safe. Just call on his name, and he will come to your aid!
“Father, thank you for your deep and abiding love! Thank you that you are always ready to come to my aid and be my refuge.” Amen!
Psalm 97:1 Adonai is king, let the earth rejoice,
let the many coasts and islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Adonai,
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
11 Light is sown for the righteous
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in Adonai, you righteous;
and give thanks on recalling his holiness.
Luke 11:27 As Yeshua was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice to call out, “How blessed is the mother that gave birth to you and nursed you from her breast!” 28 But he said, “Far more blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”____________________________
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