JOEL
THE DAY BREAKS LIKE AN ARMY
THE NAZARENE

[Verse]

His date hides from our sight Judah stood scorched in pain
Joel spoke through thick smoke locusts stripped vine and grain
priests saw gifts leave the flame beasts cried out through the plain
streams ran dry without rain joy fell flat in the plain
elders watched children weep sons heard grief from their kin
store rooms echoed with wind vineyards withered and thinned
trumpets called Zion fast priests cried hard through the blast
Joel said rend your heart tear not cloth for the part
drunkards slept through the night cups kept grief out of sight
priests kept rites without tears hearts stayed hard through the years
nations split Judah’s land captives crossed foreign sand
boys were traded for wine girls got sold down the line
Tyre grew rich from the theft Sidon dressed blood as wealth
Greece bought sons from the coast merchants made greed their toast
God kept count of each name none slipped out through the trade
blood wrote claims on the ground God called kings to account
land got carved up for gain homes got split for the same
kin got priced by the cup flesh got sold for a sum
God saw trade turn to theft God heard chains under breath
mercy still called them back pride kept sin in its path
blow the horn on the hill let the whole city reel
Day comes dark with a host ranks roll in like a ghost
flames race out in the front smoke rolls close at the back
earth shakes under their feet stars pull back from the heat
sun turns black over noon moon burns red like a wound
sickle swings through the grain press runs red through the plain
God roars out from Zion kings lose breath in the storm
who can stand in that day who can bear holy weight
yet God said turn and live mercy still waits to give
fast with truth not display seek the Lord while He calls
I will restore lost years fields will breathe after rain
Spirit will fall on flesh sons and daughters speak truth
now waste wraps reefs in grime oil turns rivers to slime
forests burn for quick gain children cough through the flame
shops bin food by the crate kids miss meals at the gate
black scales hide in the till rent makes cold rooms stand still
men sell girls through the screen lust turns persons obscene
boats sink close to our shore feeds scroll past one name more
war becomes clips by noon ads sell grief as perfume
churches stage tears for reach wolves stay safe while they preach
leaders bless every sword flags sell blood for reward
firms hide hands in the mine screens make each wound look fine
we see pain then scroll on Cain still asks is that mine
God still hears every cry none pass out of His eye
one day your last breath ends feeds keep selling to friends
friends may post hearts and pray you stand stripped on that day
death may knock before dawn or the sky splits at dawn
either way meet the King breath makes final words sting
one hundred years from now most here will sleep in dust
Christ may split sky tonight death may knock before dawn
first seal breaks white rides out conquest wears borrowed peace
red horse strips peace from earth black scales ration the bread
pale horse walks with the grave Hades follows behind
seas give back all their dead books lie wide at the throne
sickles sweep through the earth press runs red under feet
Babylon burns in one night traders weep over gold
sky rolls back like a scroll Faithful rides through the light
false white horse meets the Word Christ strikes beasts from their thrones
names not found in the Book face the second death there
saints rise out of the dust death gives back what it stole
Babylon sinks in flame Zion comes down from God
river runs from the throne trees heal nations made whole
Joel said call on God all who call will be saved
Peter preached this at dawn Spirit filled every tongue
Jesus bore sin on wood blood bought rebels for God
stone sealed breath in the dark third dawn raised flesh to light
Christ now holds death and hell all graves break at His call
turn while mercy still speaks rend your heart not your clothes
leave the blood greed and waste trust in Christ’s blood alone
Day of the Lord draws near Christ is refuge and Judge
no child gets sold for gold Lamb calls each one by name
no waste chokes any sea earth sings under the King
Joel’s word ends in Christ Day breaks bright with the Lamb