Friday 30 January 2026

Psalm 124

Background
The first half of the book of Joel paints a bleak picture. A plague of locusts has devastated the land to an extent that had not previously been experienced. The prophet Joel gives a vivid description of wholesale destruction. Life's basic necessities have failed and the people feel the weight of this crisis. As Joel tells us, "Surely, joy withers away among the people." (1:12)

In this difficult situation Joel urges the people to "cry out to the Lord" (1:14) and to turn to God in their time of distress. What this will involve is described in some detail in the verses immediately before today's reading.

It is in verse 18 that a turning point is reached and God's saving action is pronounced. Joel proclaims words of restoration and of hope. God's actions will be seen in the healing and renewal of the land. Crops will grow again and the people will "eat in plenty and be satisfied" (verse 26).

In addition to this restored physical harvest, Joel proclaims that there will be a harvest of the Spirit. There will be a day when God's Holy Spirit will be poured out on all flesh and lives will be transformed.

In the New Testament, on the day of Pentecost, Peter, filled with the new wine of the Holy Spirit, spoke to the crowd. He explained (Acts 2:14-18) that what the crowd were witnessing was not drunkenness but a fulfilmentof the prophetic words of Joel.

For both Joel and Peter, the image of a God who said, "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh" (Joel 2:28, quoted in Acts 2:17) spoke of a restoring and renewing God who would bring new life, new power and new hope to a people who found themselves in a difficult and desolate place.

It is a message of hope for us still today.

To Ponder:

• Joel spoke of a time when God's Spirit will speak through older and younger people, through free men and women and through those who were enslaved. How can we ensure that we hear the voice of God speaking through those who are not always listened to in the life of the Church?
• How might the promise proclaimed by Joel refresh areas of your life which seem desolate and dry? Invite the pouring of the Holy Spirit into your life.

Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Amen.

(Originally published in 2020.)