The Ember Friday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost
Posted on May 29, 2026 by under
Scripture: Joel 2:23-27 (NKJV)
2:23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you—the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.
26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame.
27 Then you shall know that I am tin the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.”
Devotion
After devastating judgment by locusts—God’s own “great army”—the prophet brings Gospel. The people had nothing left. Their fields were stripped bare, their future devoured. Yet the Lord does not leave them in despair. He promises vindication through rain, restoration of wasted years, overflowing threshing floors, vats bursting with wine and oil, and satisfaction that leads to praise.
This is not reward for their faithfulness, but unmerited mercy. The same God who sent the plague now restores what was lost—freely, wondrously. Twice He declares, “My people shall never again be put to shame,” and seals it with the greatest comfort: “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.”
We hear Christ here. The locust years picture our own devastation by sin, the old Adam’s ruin. Yet in Baptism, the exalted Lord pours out His Spirit like abundant rain. He restores the years the devil has stolen, feeds us with His body and blood, and clothes us with righteousness so that we are never put to shame. Guilt and condemnation are swallowed up in His forgiveness through Holy Absolution.
Dear Christian, rejoice today. The Lord is in your midst—in Word and Sacrament, truly present. He has dealt wondrously with you. Eat, be satisfied, and praise His name. No shame remains for those who trust in Him.
Collect: O merciful God, we beseech Thee that Thy Church, which was gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may nowise be troubled by hostile attack; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Collect for the Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday)
O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
