Thought for September 14, 2024

  • 1741: Handel completes "Messiah" after 23 days
  • 1814: Francis Scott Key writes "Defence of Fort McKinley" 
  • 1956: IBM releases the RAMAC-305, the first commercial computer with a hard drive using magnetic tape--weighed over 2000 pounds
  • 1960: OPEC forms [Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela]
  • 1985: "Golden Girls" debuts
  • 2021: Covid death toll in US reaches 663,000
  • Born: Margaret Sanger, Ron DeSantis, Sam Neill, Amy Winehouse,
  • Died: Aaron Burr, William McKinley, Isadora Duncan, Grace Kelly
"Messiah" is my favorite musical. Charles Jennens compiled passages of scripture describing the life of Christ. Handel provided the music for the oratory. I love this music because every word is directly from scripture and God inspired Handel to compose the music to express the power and greatness of God and Jesus.  Monday we will be reading Joel chapter 3 which speaks to the coming Day of the Lord. I think I'll listen to "Messiah" as I read that chapter. 

Thought:
Yesterday we looked at the plague and the devastation. Then we looked at how we should respond. The Lord inspires Joel to use the locust plague to describe the coming day of the Lord. Chapter 2 describes an imminent Day of the Lord when the Assyrians will come and confront King Hezekiah [701 BC, Isaiah 36-38]. 
  • The warning. The day is near and will bring darkness and gloom [2:2, 10]. The coming army is like a consuming fire [2:3] and nothing seems to be able to stop it. [2:4-10] The picture is the Assyrians move with a scorched earth policy. Nothing remains behind them but rubble and waste. 
  • The response: Be alert and sound the trumpet [2:1]. But there is only one person who can help. So return to God with your whole heart [2:12] Now is not the time for half-hearted repentance or devotion. This thought sent me to Psalm 51:17 and David's prayer. In a time of crisis, don't rend your garments as the Jews did when bad things were happening, rather render your whole heart to the Lord--His sacrifices are a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Joel then repeats the instructions from chapter 1--fast, mourn, pray. Then trust God [2:18-27] Why?
    • He will have pity/compassion.
    • He will answer
    • He will defeat the enemy
    • He will restore
  • The outcome. Do not fear, but rather rejoice and praise God. Recall what Hezekiah did. He went to the Lord and overnight, 185,000 enemy soldiers died. The Assyrians retreated without Israel firing a single shot. 
Sometimes I need to remember that the battle is the Lord's, our weapons are the word, repentance and prayer. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6 that our battle is not against flesh and blood--it is spiritual warfare fought with spiritual weapons. Maybe I just need to work on my part--confess, repent, pray, and trust God to win the victory. Truly, faith is the victory that overcomes the world. 

Blessings
Larry

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