Where is the Weeping 2

Why Should We Weep?

Really, this article should have come before “Where is the weeping?” because it talks about Joel 2:1-12 The previous article, ‘Where is the weeping’, dealt with verses 15-17. However there is a logic which says that, having asked why we are not weeping, then we should explain why we should be weeping. Look at what Joel says in the beginning of this chapter – I have selected that which I need for this article for the sake of brevity.

Joel 2:1-12 (NIV1984)

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, ......... At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; ............... Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The LORD thunders at the head of his army; ........ The day of the LORD is great; ........... “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Pretty graphic and certainly specific. A picture of the end-times. A warning to us of the events of the end-times. If you listen to all the good teaching on this, the consensus of opinion is that these are events that take place after the Rapture.

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. I just see one word here – “tremble” !! Now why on earth should we tremble? Well there are several scriptures which point out that if the Lord is coming, and if He is bringing the Army of the Lord with Him, then it’s probably best to keep as clear as you can for, “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31 So it becomes quite logical that all in the land will ‘tremble’ at that thought.

“It is close at hand— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes” Here Joel prophesies what that day may be like – nay will be like.

“At the sight of them, nations are in anguish” Can you and I even begin to imagine the terror of seeing the invincible Army of the Lord marching towards our city, our town, our home. No wonder Joel says that those who see them approach will be in ‘anguish’.

“Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” When the new Millennium Footbridge opened across the River Thames in London, the inaugural procession was headed by military bands. Now, because the band marched to a rhythm, so did the joyful crowds following. That small activity set up a vibration and a shaking that almost brought the new and very expensive bridge tumbling down and they had to ban marching on the bridge even after reinforcements were made. Now, back to the invading Army of the Lord. Can you imagine the noise, the vibrations and tremors of a huge army marching to a strict rhythmic beat. Can you imagine the dust cloud that would be created. No wonder again that Joel says that the earth shakes, the sky trembles, and the sun and moon are darkened. What a terrible and frightening sight!

“The LORD thunders at the head of his army” With the Lord leading His army, like any other leader, He will be shouting orders and encouragement to His troops. There are at least three places in scripture where the Lords voice is likened to thunder.

“The day of the LORD is great” What a day this will be! I am just grateful that I will not be here to see it. Imagine all the war films you have ever seen and roll all of the loudest scenes into one vast scene and you probably still have nothing to compare with the day Joel describes here.

“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Here the we have the reason why we should be weeping for the lost in our towns, cities, and countries. Here the Lord is opening the doors of mercy one last time, almost begging us to obey 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God does not want to lose one single soul and He will go to extraordinary lengths to save us - bar a ‘blanket amnesty’. He will judge every man, woman, and child of reasoning age according to whether or not they are saved by Grace. To some, He will say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” To the rest, regardless of their pleas and reasoning, He will say, “Away from me, I did not know you.” This is why we must weep tears over the lost, the unsaved, the atheists, and all the theists of different but false religions.

God’s Word is full of warnings about all this. I have just used one prophet, Joel, to illustrate the urgent need for weeping over our lands. If I sound serious, it is because this is a serious matter. So serious that God sent His only Son to die for our sin and to prepare a way for us to come back to the Father and enjoy that which He has prepared for us in heaven.