“And it will be afterwards That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; Your old men will dream dreams; Your young men will see visions.”
Joel 2:28, LSB
We are reminded of this promise in Acts 2 at Pentecost. Here our Lord is pointing the people of Israel to the coming Messiah and the promise of restoration of God’s chosen people. Joel was pointing to the hope that the Spirit of the Lord would flow freely in a believing people. Our Lord desires that we should all be filled with His Spirit and that His Spirit would remain. We read in the times of King Saul how God poured His Spirit out on prophets to prophecy His Truth and twice we know that it occurred to King Saul in which the question was asked, “Is Saul numbered among the prophets?” Would it only have remained? Saul’s heart was easily corrupted by the power and his eyes were turned away from God. David was chosen by God not because he was perfect, but because of the nature of His heart toward God. God desires for our hearts to be turned ever toward Him and that we may always be carried in the hope and the promise of Jesus Christ. Joel was preparing hearts for His coming and now as we await His return we can find promise in the Holy Spirit who resides in the hearts of all believers and gives us peace.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.