DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 4 March 2025: Being Forewarned
Text: Joel 2:1-11 (KJV)
1 Blow ye 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;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
KEY VERSE: Joel 2:1
“Blow ye 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 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, a United States military facility in the Pacific during World War 2, came without warning. It was a surprise operation by the Japanese forces. Because America was a neutral country in the conflict, the attack caught it unawares, leaving four of its battleships damaged and four others sunk. More than 180 US aircraft were also destroyed during the invasion. There were also heavy human casualties: 2403 Americans were killed, while 1178 others were wounded.
It would not have been such a litany of tragic statistics if the American forces had been forewarned the way a merciful God served notice to the children of Israel about an impending day of judgment. Abraham’s offspring had departed from Moses’ commandments as laid bare by God. They pursued the laws and customs of the heathen nations around them. The Lord would not have a reign of impunity. He would mete out judgment soon. But He would not do so without giving room for repentance.
A sudden assault on the land by heaven would wreak far more havoc than the Americans experienced at the hands of the Japanese. To avoid the fast approaching “day of gloominess…of clouds…when the earth shall quake…and the heavens shall tremble… the sun and moon shall be dark…”, the Lord called for trumpets to be blown to warn the people to make right their ways before Him.
Typical of a loving and longsuffering Lord, He would allow a window of waiting for those worthy of punishment for their wrongdoings to amend their ways. He sends His servants to preach the gospel of salvation and warn that these wide doors of grace would soon close. The plea of Joel to ancient Israel more than 3000 years ago applies to our age: “The day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
For the wise, God’s warning is a great opportunity to avert calamity.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 18-20
Daily Manna 4 March 2025
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