Praying for the Pity of the Lord

Joel 2:17-18 Praying for the Pity of the Lord

“Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, ‘Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them wherefore should they say among the people, where is their God. Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people.”

Joel’s prayer was not just a suggestion but a heartfelt plea for those in positions of responsibility to intercede for the people of God. It was a desperate request for God to spare them, preventing their generation from falling into the hands of the ungodly. It was a cry for the ungodly not to rule over them, and that they would not be left in a position where others could ask, ‘Where is their God?’ 

Joel took a bold and obedient stand, urging the leaders to repent. Whenever we become a voice for God that calls His people to repent, we may find ourselves in a challenging situation. However, when the Lord speaks, obedience must follow. The people of Israel were in a difficult position. The land was mourning, failing to produce; joy and gladness were cut off, and the animals suffered. In this case, the calamity stemmed from the nation’s departure from the Lord. Yet, returning to the Lord is always the surest path to restoration. Whenever we repent and cry out to God for His mercy and compassion, He will respond, “For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm (Psalm 145:8).”

The same words used by Joel could be a good starting point for intercession for someone you know, your city, neighborhood, family, or nation. “Spare the people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” Let us not stand idly by but join this plea for divine intervention.