The Friday of Ember Week in Whitsuntide
Posted on June 13, 2025 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 in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.”
Devotion
Due to their sin, the land had been made desolate by means of a famine and four kinds of locusts sent as punishment from God. It had caused man and beast to suffer. God told them in Joel 2:12, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” He connected a promise with it, “Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:13). Evidently, they trusted in God’s Word, and returning to Him they held Him to His promise. Today’s text announces a Gospel promise of good news. “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God.”
God promises to take away their sin and shame. He promises to replace the devastation with plenty. But more importantly, the Lord promises to be their God and live with them. Jesus Christ was the teacher for righteousness. The Son of God left His rightful throne and, taking on human flesh, came and dwelt in their midst. He lived a righteous life for us. He taught righteousness through faith in Him. We receive both the former blessings and the latter blessings. Pentecost is only the beginning of the abundant harvests which will come to God’s people. Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit many will come to learn about Jesus and receive His righteousness.
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
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.
