Blow a trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and the nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom come out of his room
And the bride out of her bridal chamber. Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers,
Weep between the porch and the altar,
And let them say, "Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not make Your inheritance a reproach,
A byword among the nations.
Why should they among the peoples say,
‘Where is their God?’"
Then the Lord will be zealous for His land
And will have pity on His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people,
"Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil,
And you will be satisfied in full with them;
And I will never again make you a reproach among the nations. "But I will remove the northern army far from you,
And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land,
And its vanguard into the eastern sea,
And its rear guard into the western sea.
And its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up,
For it has done great things."
Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad,
For the Lord has done great things. Do not fear, beasts of the field,
For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green,
For the tree has borne its fruit,
The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full. So rejoice, O sons of Zion,
And be glad in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the early rain for your vindication.
And He has poured down for you the rain,
The early and latter rain as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain,
And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil. "Then I will make up to you for the years
That the swarming locust has eaten,
The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust,
My great army which I sent among you. "You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied
And praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
Then My people will never be put to shame. "Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the Lord your God,
And there is no other;
And My people will never be put to shame.
My thoughts -
The first half of Joel paints a horrific picture. Joel describes an invading army of locusts that has devoured everything. They have covered the land, eaten the crops, and even gone through windows and under doors and infested everything. Joel uses such vivid militaristic language to describe the invasion that it is unclear if he is describing an infestation or an actual invading army.
The land is destroyed. Their economy is destroyed. Their homes are destroyed. Their livestock have nothing to eat and even no water to drink. Everything they have is no more. They have nothing.
So what does Joel prescribe? Return to God. Mourn. Repent. Beg God for mercy. This situation is beyond their strength. They need God to redeem and deliver them.
But there is good news! Their God is a delivering God. Their God is a saving God. In this relationship with God the people have run hot and cold. They have worshipped and served God and they have turned their backs on God. They have cared for the poor, the weak and the oppressed and they have been the oppressors. They have offered sacrifices to God and they have fallen so far that they have sacrificed their own children to idols. But one constant has remained. God has done great things.
When they turn to God, God takes great joy in delivering and saving them. When God is called upon God answers. With God there is always hope. With God there is always the promise of restoration. With God there is always the promise of salvation.
God tells them "My people will never be put to shame."
This was true then. It is true now. It will be true forever.
Praise God.
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