Tuesday 27 January 2026
To you, O Lord, I cry. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flames have burned all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals cry to you because the watercourses are dried up and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness. (vs 19-20)
Background
This passage begins with rounding off the call to respond to the plague of locusts with repentance, this time for all the people. A combination of fasting and prayer is called for, which remains a common response to an overwhelming disaster.
Verse 15 looks at what is happening and wonders if it is a sign that 'the Day of the Lord is near'. The phrase is common throughout Scripture and far beyond, but was Joel’s usage similar to ours? Joel repeatedly uses strong imagery, describing the plague of locusts as an invading army, and while the origins of the 'Day of the Lord' are lost, this is one of the frequent images in the Old Testament (for example see Zephaniah 1:14-16).
Another strong idea taught was that the 'Day of the Lord' was a day of judgment, particularly for Israel and Judah: see Amos 5:18-20. We will need to carry on reading more of the lament to discover how Joel views the Day of the Lord here.
Meanwhile, there is the pain of the lament. Dwelling on persistent pain is not easy and our society struggles with the concept. Today, 27 January, marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide.
Perhaps one of the key lessons from Joel is the power of truth-telling, of not moving on from the pain too fast because actually sharing the truth of pain is healthier than trying to hide it.
To Ponder:
- What experiences do you have of telling the truth of pain rather than hiding it, playing it down or pretending it's not there?
- What helps us most through crises?
- What do you think are appropriate responses for Christians to have to Holocaust Memorial Day? What should be avoided? (And why?)
Prayer
Holy God, sit with us through the pain and struggles. Be truth, persistence, patience and kindness for us. Amen.
(Originally published in 2023)