9.10.2025 Prayer Room – Joel 2

JOEL 2:12-17 – God’s Call for Repentance

12 Even now—this is the Lord’s declaration—turn to me with all your heart,with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

13 Tear your hearts,not just your clothes,and return to the Lord your God.For he is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,and he relents from sending disaster.

14 Who knows? He may turn and relentand leave a blessing behind him,so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offeringto the Lord your God.

15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion!Announce a sacred fast;proclaim a solemn assembly.

16 Gather the people;sanctify the congregation;assemble the aged;gather the infants,even babies nursing at the breast.Let the groom leave his bedroom,and the bride her honeymoon chamber.

17 Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers,weep between the portico and the altar.Let them say,“Have pity on your people, Lord,and do not make your inheritance a disgrace,an object of scorn among the nations.Why should it be said among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”

JOEL 2:18-19; 23-27 – God’s Response to His People

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land and spared his people.

19 The Lord answered his people:

Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and fresh oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.

23 Children of Zion, rejoice and be gladin the Lord your God,because he gives you the autumn rainfor your vindication.He sends showers for you,both autumn and spring rain as before.

24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,and the vats will overflowwith new wine and fresh oil.

25 I will repay you for the yearsthat the swarming locust ate,the young locust, the destroying locust,and the devouring locust—my great army that I sent against you.

26 You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. My people will never again be put to shame.

27 You will know that I am present in Israeland that I am the Lord your God,and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.

HEARING:

Listen to the Holy Spirit. Specifically think about: 

• Spend time in prayer to hear and imagine what God thinks of our city. (Luke 19:41-44).

• Where is repentance necessary? First for us and then for the church and our city? 

• Rest in God’s character and let that stir your hope for renewal. Reflect on God’s call to return to him “even now”. 

• Read through Joel 2, using the text to inform our hearts about who God is and his heart for our city. 

RESPOND:

After repentance, God is happy to embrace His people anew. Like the people and the priests in Joel, use your elected position before God to:

• Ask God to jealousy pursue Boston. (Joel 2:18) Let repentance give way to new life as God satisfies the spiritual hunger of His people.

• Ask God for His Spirit to be made manifest in His Church, that His people would be empowered to work with the Spirit to glorify God in new ways (Joel 2:28-31)

• Intercede for those you know, that they may ‘call on the name of the Lord’ in our day. (Joel 2:27, 32) Pray against outward religion without inward surrender (2:13).