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August 11, 2022 8:00 pm
In 1717, a devastating storm raged for days, leading to widespread flooding in northern Europe. Thousands of people lost their lives in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. History reveals an interesting and customary—for that time—response by at least one local government. The provincial authorities of the Dutch city of Groningen called for a “prayer day” in response to the disaster. A historian reports that the citizens gathered in churches and “listened to sermons, sang psalms, and prayed for hours.”
The prophet Joel describes an overwhelming disaster faced by the people of Judah that also led to prayer. A massive swarm of locusts had covered the land and “laid waste [its] vines and ruined [its] fig trees” (Joel 1:7). As he and his people reeled from the devastation, Joel prayed, “Lord, help us!” (1:19 nlt). Directly and indirectly, both the people of northern Europe and Judah experienced disasters due to the effects of sin and this fallen world (Genesis 3:17–19; Romans 8:20–22). But they also found that these times led them to call out to God and seek Him in prayer (Joel 1:19). And God said, “Even now . . . return to me with all your heart” (2:12).
When we face difficulties and disaster, may we turn to God—perhaps in anguish, perhaps in repentance. “Compassionate” and “abounding in love” (v. 13), He draws us to Himself—providing the comfort and help we need.
Welcome to today's devotional reading from Our Daily Bread, Felton titled today's encouragement drawn by disaster in 1717.
A devastating storm raged for days, leading to widespread flooding in northern Europe. Thousands of people lost their lives in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. History reveals an interesting and customary for that time. Response by at least one local government. The provincial authorities of the Dutch city of Kroening are called for prayer day in response to the disaster. Historian reports that the citizens gathered in churches and listen to sermons saying Psalms and prayed for hours.
The prophet Joel describes an overwhelming disaster faced by the people of Judah that also led to prayer a massive swarm of locusts had covered the land and laid waste its vines and ruined its victories as he and his people reeled from the devastation jewel prayed Lord help us directly and indirectly with the people of northern Europe and Judah experience disasters that originated with the effects of sin in this fallen world, but they also found that these times let them to call out to God and seek him in prayer and God said even now returned to me with all your heart. When we face difficulties, and disaster may return to God. Perhaps in anguish, perhaps in repentance, compassionate, and abounding in love. He draws us to himself, providing the comfort and help we need today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from jewel chapter 1 verses one through seven and 19 through 20.
The word of the Lord that came to Joel, son of Peck to cure this to others. Listen all who live in the land.
Has anything like this ever happened in your days, or in the days of your ancestors, tell it to your children and let your children tell it to their children and their children to the next generation with the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten with the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten what the young locust have left other locusts have eaten wake up you drunkards and weep whale all you drinkers of wine well because of the for his been snatched from your lips nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number.
It is the teeth of a lion, the things of a lioness.
It is laid waste my vines and ruined my fig trees is stripped off their bark and thrown it away, leaving the branches white and now picking up the first 19 to you Lord I call the fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.
Even the wild animals pant for you streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured pastures in the wilderness.
Let's pray heavenly father, thank you for being there when we face the harsh realities of life. Help us to call out to you and find the hope, healing and refining you alone can provide in the face of difficulty in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries
