Lament Like a Virgin Joel 1:8

As Joel continued his prophesy concerning Judah, he shared how even the “vine” and “fig tree” within their country was affected by the invading “nation”. In chapter one and verse eight of his prophesy, Joel tells the people of the nation to “lament like a virgin” where we read:

Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

The verse begins, “Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth...” Joel began with the word, “Lament” which means “wail and bewail” “like a virgin” or “maid or maiden” “girded” or “put on, bind on or gird oneself” “with sackcloth” which means “mesh which is worn in mourning or humiliation”. Joel called for the people of Judah to “wail” like a “bride to be” who is dressed in “sackcloth” rather than a wedding dress.

The verse continues, “...for the husband of her youth.” Joel added, “for the husband” which literally refers to “a master” and hence figuratively “the lord” “of her youth” which means “early life and childhood” when passions are at their highest. The people of Judah were to feel the same passion as a youthful bride to be or “betrothed” woman who was distanced from her husband to be.

When we meditate upon these words from Joel, we can imagine the deep sorrow that a “virgin” or “bride to be” would feel if she were separated from her husband to be. Judah was separated from “Jehovah” in this manner, and therefore their land and their people were suffering greatly. Perhaps it will help us to examine whether we should be in the posture of this “saddened” “virgin”, and if we find ourselves “separated” from the Lord Jesus for any reason, let us “wail” in repentance and allow Him to reestablish our relationship straight away.

Next time Joel shares concerning “the meat and the drink offering”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.