Fasting in the Bible Day 10: Joel

Dress yourselves with sackcloth and weep, you priests. Wail, you who serve at the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God, for there is no grain or wine to offer at the temple. Announce a fast and call a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land to the temple of the LORD your God and cry out to Him there. The day of the Lord is near and destruction will come from the Almighty. How terrible! Joel 1: 13 – 15

Sound the trumpet in Jerusalem! Raise the alarm on My holy mountain! Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of the Lord is near. Joel 2: 1

That is why the LORD says, “Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in grief but tear your hearts instead.” Turn to the LORD your God who is gracious and compassionate, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps He will send a blessing and not a curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the LORD like before. Sound the trumpet in Jerusalem. Announce a fast and call a solemn meeting for the people. Bring the leaders, the children and the babies. Bring the bridegroom and the bride out of their chambers. Let the priests of the Lord weep outside the altar and pray, ‘Spare Your people, LORD! Don’t let us, your special possession, become an object of mockery or a joke for unbelieving foreigners.’ ” Joel 2: 12 – 17

The book of Joel, although short, communicates an important message to the Jews 400 years before Christ. The day of the judgment of the LORD is coming, but it is not too late to repent!

The fast that is called for by the prophet Joel includes the idea of mourning with sackcloth and ashes, as in other Old Testament books, but with a new twist! He said, “Let’s get everyone together, leaders, people, children, babies, the newly married, to fast, mourn and pray. And let’s fast with a true heart that is torn in grief over our sin.”

This is an example to encourage you and maybe a small group, community team, or family to fast together.

This fall I went to Vienna, Austria to work with refugees from over 40 countries, for a month. I lived with a woman who also volunteers there, so I was not alone, but I gathered together a team of people to fast and pray for this endeavor. God led me to “Announce a fast!” for those on my prayer and support team for the day before I left. God showed up big while I was there! (You can read about my trip on this blog at For the Stranger.)

What group or team of people in your life has a common concern or major prayer request? Call a fast and special prayer time for support.

Almighty God, You want to hear from me. I want to hear from You. You want to hear that my heart is all Yours. It is. I need You to answer me about the prayer and concern that I am fasting for. I ask this because You are all powerful and my God of love. I look forward to Your answering shout or whisper. I cherish Your unfailing support. Amen.