• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"Spare Your people, O LORD"

Text: Joel 2:17

A SUGGESTED PRAYER

The prophet Joel went on to give a suggestion as to how to pray to the LORD their God.

“Let the priests, who minister to the LORD,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O LORD,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?””
Joel 2:17

1. “Let the priests, who minister to the LORD”

a) They were specially appointed to this task.

b) The priests were chosen by the Lord to serve Him (Exodus 28:1-4).

2. “Weep between the porch and the altar”

a) There were two altars:

i) The altar of incense.

ii) The altar of burnt offerings.

iii) This is a reference to the latter.

b) Between the porch and the altar:

i) This was commonly called “the priests’ court”.

ii) The porch was for those who were non-priests.

iii) The prayers of the priests would therefore be observable to all in the porch area.

3. “Let them say” (a suggestion for the prayer contents)

a) “Spare Your people, O LORD”

i) This is a plea for mercy and must be offered with copious and genuine tears.

ii) A plea based on the Covenant where God said He would take Israel as His people.

b) “Do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them”

i) Israel was God’s heritage.

ii) Gentile nations should not rule over Israel.

iii) This would be a reproach on the people, and more so, on the LORD too.

c) “Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?'”

i) The priests must express concern for the good name of the LORD.

ii) They must plead with all their might for the Lord’s mercy to be bestowed.