Text: Joel 2
Hymn: 536, One Thing’s Needful
Kretzmann Commentary: Joel
Bonus Bumper: Mendelsohnn – Elijah, “Ye People, Rend Your Hearts”
Nobody reads Joel, right? Yet there in Joel 2 we see several familiar themes. Rend your hearts and not your garments. The Lord God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Finally the passage cited in Acts that pertains to Pentecost.
Michele Bunyon lent her voice again, this time on “One Thing’s Needful.” The first part of each stanza is in 4/4 time, while the backside is in 3/4 and a little faster.
Setting from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.
One Thing’s Needful
- One thing’s needful; Lord this treasure
Teach me highly to regard.
All else, though it first give pleasure,
Is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
This one thing is needful; all others are vain–
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain! - How were Mary’s thoughts devoted,
Her eternal joy to find
As intent each word she noted,
At her Savior’s feet reclined!
How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling,
While hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing!
All earthly concerns she forgot for her Lord
And found her contentment in hearing His Word. - Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure,
Jesus, is revealed in You.
Let me find in You my pleasure,
And my wayward will subdue.
Humility there and simplicity reigning,
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine. - Nothing have I, Christ to offer,
You alone, my highest good.
Nothing have I, Lord, to proffer
But Your crimson-colored blood.
Your death on the cross hath death wholly defeated
And thereby my righteousness fully completed;
Salvation’s white raiments I there did obtain,
And in them in glory with You I shall reign. - Therefore You alone, my Savior,
Shall be all in all to me;
Search my heart and my behavior,
Root out all hypocrisy.
Through all my life’s pilgrimage, guard and uphold me,
In loving forgiveness, O Jesus, enfold me.
This one thing is needful, all others are vain–
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.
TURRIE on 
Dan
