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- Joel 2: 1, NIV.
Dear LORD, we come before You grateful that we can gather together to study Your Word. Please be our Teacher as we seek to learn what is Your will, and do it. This we pray, in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
There are some other words in our text that I would like us to consider. Let us spend some time looking at the phrase: “on my holy hill.” As I studied the word holy, there were several meanings of interest that came to my attention. Among them were: “sacred place;” “consecrated;” “dedicated;” “God’s presence is what makes any place, anything, or anyone holy” (Hebrew – Greek Key Word Study Bible, p. 1976, OT Dictionary). These definitions, and statement, took my mind back to the tabernacle in the wilderness. God had said to Moses, ” ‘ “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. . .” ‘ ” (Exodus 25: 8, 9).
A point of great interest regarding the earthly sanctuary, is that it was to be fashioned after the pattern that God showed Moses. The only other sanctuary that I am aware of in Scripture, from which the earthly sanctuary could have been patterned, is the sanctuary in heaven. Here are some references to that heavenly sanctuary: ” ‘ “The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth” ‘ ” (Psalm 12: 19, emphasis provided); “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm” (Revelation 11: 19, emphasis provided). “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone ‘ “like a son of man,” ‘ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest” (Revelation 1: 12, emphasis provided). The seven golden lampstands mentioned here, seem to be the pattern from which the seven lamps in the earthly sanctuary were fashioned (Exodus 25: 37).
Heaven is a holy place. If the earthly sanctuary was a pattern of the heavenly sanctuary, then surely, it was to be a pattern not only in form, but in nature, as well. It too, should be holy. In Scripture, there is mention of two instances in which Jesus emphasized the holiness of the Temple. When the merchants took sacrificial animals into the temple to sell, Jesus would not allow it! His response shows His indignation: “So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market” (John 2: 15, 16)! Shortly before He was crucified, the scene was repeated, almost to the letter, “Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. ‘ “It is written,” ‘ he said to them, ” ‘My house will be a house of prayer’ ” but you have made it ‘a den of robbers’ ” (Luke 19: 45, 46).
God, through His prophet Isaiah had the following to say, about His sanctuary, and the part it would play in bringing “others” to the fold, “these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56: 7, emphasis provided ). It is of special interest, then, that the alarm should be sounded from His holy hill! This sounds as if God is depending on His church to alert others to the fact that the day of His coming is fast approaching!
To the worldwide church of God has been given the awesome task of sharing the Good News,that the coming of Jesus Christ will represent the end of suffering! We are to share the hope of a better tomorrow! We have the opportunity to share a loving Savior with all who are willing to listen! And to let them know, that “He is not willing that any should perish,” but that all should repent and receive eternal life (2 Peter 3: 10)! Such news should “give joy” to all those who come to His house of prayer. Therefore, let us sound the alarm on His holy hill! Oh, and do not forget that above the Ark of the Covenant, is the Mercy Seat! So there is mercy available for you and me. Hallelujah! Today is the day, to accept it!