The Gathering

' Blow the trumpet in Zion;  consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people.

Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. 

Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.' Joel 2:15-16 (ESV)

The pastor is to make the call to repentance. Not to the regular worship service, this was a solemn occasion. A gathering like no other. No songs were sung. No sacraments or sacrifices were offered. Dressed for mourning, all were in attendance, none were excused. This was a day of humility. The nation was in trouble yet again. Darkness was upon the land. Judgment would soon fall. The trumpet blast was the signal to assemble. Assemble they did, with cries and passionate sobs and pleas of 'spare your people Lord'. The sinner's plea. All sins were to be confessed and dealt with. God was waiting to hear from them to show his acts of kindness and to offer up his covenant of grace.

 Dear Father

We pray for our nation yet again. Heal Your people. Bring us back from the brink. Return us back to the fathers and to You Father. We know we are in trouble. There is darkness on the land. Forgive us for not standing up against the enemy. We mourn our losses and omissions, we mourn our sins of commission. We have ignored the cries of the helpless. We have failed to offer hope to the hopeless. We have forgotten our first Love. Forgive us Lord. Spare us yet again. Give us more time to repent and to turn from our wicked ways and follow you.  Hear our pleas. Move on your people. Restore what the enemy has stolen back to us. Heal our land. 

And you redeem your people with the nomination of a righteous judge. Confirmation be quick! Truth be revealed and stand! 

We pray this thirty-fifth day before the election that your will be done. We pray for people to vote their conscience. We pray for more traditional values voters to take a stand for life and liberty.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Source: 'Drummingthemessagehome', September 29, 2020 blog post.