Blow the Trumpet in Zion Joel 2:1

As we completed the first chapter of Joel's prophecy, he shared about “the beasts of the field” crying because the “rivers of waters” were “dried up” and the “fire” had “devoured the pastures of the wilderness”. In chapter two and verse one of his prophecy, Joel sounds an alarm as he declares, “Blow the trumpet in Zion” where we read:

Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

The verse begins, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain:” Joel began with the word, “Blow” which means “clap, strike, sound, thrust and blast” “the trumpet” which is the Hebrew word “Showphar” or the “cornet, horn or ram's horn” “in Zion” which means “parched place” and is “another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books”, “and sound an alarm” which means “shout, raise a sound, cry out and give a blast” “in my holy” or “apart, sacred and holy” “mountain” which refers to a “hill, hill country or range of hills”. Joel desired that the warning sound of the “Showphar” horn to be blasted aloud throughout all the land and mountains of “Zion”.

The verse goes on to say, “let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD comes, for it is nigh at hand;” Joel added, “let all the inhabitants” which refers to “those who dwell, remain, sit and abide” “of the land” or “country, territory, district and region” “tremble” which means “quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, disquieted and perturbed”: “for the day” which refers to “time, year, division of time and period” “of the LORD” or “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the name of the one true God” “comes” which means “enters, goes in and comes to pass” “for it is nigh at hand” which means “near, allied, approached, ready and short”. Joel's reason for the sounding of the “trumpet” and the “trembling” of the people who dwelled in “Zion” was because “the day of the LORD” was very near.

When we think through these words of Joel, we can almost hear the warning tone in Joel's words. He knew judgment was coming upon “Jerusalem” and the land of Judah, and he desired for everyone throughout the land to be aware that it was near. We live in conditions today that are similar to those who dwelt in “Zion”, and the forsaking of the ways of God should have us hearing the warning sound of the “Showphar” as well. Since the “day of the LORD” was at hand during this time of Joel, how much more is it at hand today. May “all the inhabitants” of our land realize the “judgment” that is pending over our lives, and may they surrender their lives to Jesus Christ before the fulfillment of this judgment comes.

Next time Joel shares about, “A day of darkness and of gloominess”, 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.