Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for this opportunity to gather together as a family,

to open up your word so that you will speak to us through it.

And that we would in turn do your word, Lord, that we would act upon it.

And so as we learn tonight from the prophet Joel, we pray, Father, that you would speak to our hearts. And we pray this in Christ's name.

Amen. The year was 1863. The month, April. The day, the 30th. On this day, until May 6th, the United States was in a confrontation that took place in

Spotsylvania County, Virginia. It was called the Battle of Chancerville,

led by Southern Confederate General Robert E. Lee

and Northern Union General Joseph Hooker,

the two clashed over national unity

and the evil of slavery.

It was a bloody battle with 30,764 casualties.

That's a lot of wounded and dead.

But here's what's interesting to me, that one month prior to this battle,

President Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer.

One month prior to the battle, signed on March 30th, 1863, Proclamation 97, as it's

known, reads in part, and I'm just going to read part of it to you. Whereas it is the duty of

nations as well as men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their

sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance

will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history

that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

Powerful statement.

But sadly, the Civil War continued.

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