Joel 2

1 canite tuba in Sion ululate in monte sancto meo conturbentur omnes habitatores terrae quia venit dies Domini quia prope est

2 dies tenebrarum et caliginis dies nubis et turbinis quasi mane expansum super montes populus multus et fortis similis ei non fuit a principio et post eum non erit usque in annos generationis et generationis

3 ante faciem eius ignis vorans et post eum exurens flamma quasi hortus voluptatis terra coram eo et post eum solitudo deserti neque est qui effugiat eum

4 quasi aspectus equorum aspectus eorum et quasi equites sic current

5 sicut sonitus quadrigarum super capita montium exilient sicut sonitus flammae ignis devorantis stipulam velut populus fortis praeparatus ad proelium

6 a facie eius cruciabuntur populi omnes vultus redigentur in ollam

7 sicut fortes current quasi viri bellatores ascendent murum vir in viis suis gradietur et non declinabunt a semitis suis

8 unusquisque fratrem suum non coartabit singuli in calle suo ambulabunt sed et per fenestras cadent et non demolientur

9 urbem ingredientur in muro current domos conscendent per fenestras intrabunt quasi fur

10 a facie eius contremuit terra moti sunt caeli sol et luna obtenebrati sunt et stellae retraxerunt splendorem suum

11 et Dominus dedit vocem suam ante faciem exercitus sui quia multa sunt nimis castra eius quia fortia et facientia verbum eius magnus enim dies Domini et terribilis valde et quis sustinebit eum

12 nunc ergo dicit Dominus convertimini ad me in toto corde vestro in ieiunio et in fletu et in planctu

13 et scindite corda vestra et non vestimenta vestra et convertimini ad Dominum Deum vestrum quia benignus et misericors est patiens et multae misericordiae et praestabilis super malitia

14 quis scit si convertatur et ignoscat et relinquat post se benedictionem sacrificium et libamen Domino Deo nostro

15 canite tuba in Sion sanctificate ieiunium vocate coetum

16 congregate populum sanctificate ecclesiam coadunate senes congregate parvulos et sugentes ubera egrediatur sponsus de cubili suo et sponsa de thalamo suo

17 inter vestibulum et altare plorabunt sacerdotes ministri Domini et dicent parce Domine populo tuo et ne des hereditatem tuam in obprobrium ut dominentur eis nationes quare dicunt in populis ubi est Deus eorum

18 zelatus est Dominus terram suam et pepercit populo suo

19 et respondit Dominus et dixit populo suo ecce ego mittam vobis frumentum et vinum et oleum et replebimini eo et non dabo vos ultra obprobrium in gentibus

20 et eum qui ab aquilone est procul faciam a vobis et expellam eum in terram inviam et desertam faciem eius contra mare orientale et extremum eius ad mare novissimum et ascendet fetor eius et ascendet putredo eius quia superbe egit

21 noli timere terra exulta et laetare quoniam magnificavit Dominus ut faceret

22 nolite timere animalia regionis quia germinaverunt speciosa deserti quia lignum adtulit fructum suum ficus et vinea dederunt virtutem suam

23 et filii Sion exultate et laetamini in Domino Deo vestro quia dedit vobis doctorem iustitiae et descendere faciet ad vos imbrem matutinum et serotinum in principio

24 et implebuntur areae frumento et redundabunt torcularia vino et oleo

25 et reddam vobis annos quos comedit lucusta bruchus et rubigo et eruca fortitudo mea magna quam misi in vos

26 et comedetis vescentes et saturabimini et laudabitis nomen Domini Dei vestri qui fecit vobiscum mirabilia et non confundetur populus meus in sempiternum

27 et scietis quia in medio Israhel ego sum et ego Dominus Deus vester et non est amplius et non confundetur populus meus in aeternum

28 et erit post haec effundam spiritum meum super omnem carnem et prophetabunt filii vestri et filiae vestrae senes vestri somnia somniabunt et iuvenes vestri visiones videbunt

29 sed et super servos et ancillas in diebus illis effundam spiritum meum

30 et dabo prodigia in caelo et in terra sanguinem et ignem et vaporem fumi

31 sol vertetur in tenebras et luna in sanguinem antequam veniat dies Domini magnus et horribilis

32 et erit omnis qui invocaverit nomen Domini salvus erit quia in monte Sion et in Hierusalem erit salvatio sicut dixit Dominus et in residuis quos Dominus vocaverit

Joel 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

God's judgments. (1-14) Exhortations to fasting and prayer; blessings promised. (15-27) A promise of the Holy Spirit, and of future mercies. (28-32)

Verses 1-14 The priests were to alarm the people with the near approach of the Divine judgments. It is the work of ministers to warn of the fatal consequences of sin, and to reveal the wrath from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. The striking description which follows, shows what would attend the devastations of locusts, but may also describe the effects from the ravaging of the land by the Chaldeans. If the alarm of temporal judgments is given to offending nations, how much more should sinners be warned to seek deliverance from the wrath to come! Our business therefore on earth must especially be, to secure an interest in our Lord Jesus Christ; and we should seek to be weaned from objects which will soon be torn from all who now make idols of them. There must be outward expressions of sorrow and shame, fasting, weeping, and mourning; tears for trouble must be turned into tears for the sin that caused it. But rending the garments would be vain, except their hearts were rent by abasement and self-abhorrence; by sorrow for their sins, and separation from them. There is no question but that if we truly repent of our sins, God will forgive them; but whether he will remove affliction is not promised, yet the probability of it should encourage us to repent.

Verses 15-27 The priests and rulers are to appoint a solemn fast. The sinner's supplication is, Spare us, good Lord. God is ready to succour his people; and he waits to be gracious. They prayed that God would spare them, and he answered them. His promises are real answers to the prayers of faith; with him saying and doing are not two things. Some understand these promises figuratively, as pointing to gospel grace, and as fulfilled in the abundant comforts treasured up for believers in the covenant of grace.

Verses 28-32 The promise began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and it was continued in the converting grace and miraculous gifts conferred on both Jews and Gentiles. The judgments of God upon a sinful world, only go before the judgment of the world in the last day. Calling on God supposes knowledge of him, faith in him, desire toward him, dependence on him, and, as evidence of the sincerity of all this, conscientious obedience to him. Those only shall be delivered in the great day, who are now effectually called from sin to God, from self to Christ, from things below to things above.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOEL 2

In this chapter a further account is given of the judgment of the locusts and caterpillars, or of those who are designed by them, Joe 2:1-11; the people of the Jews are called to repentance, humiliation, and fasting, urged from the grace and goodness of God, his jealousy and pity for his people, and the answer of prayer that might he expected from him upon this, even to the removal of the calamity, Joe 2:12-20; a prophecy of good things, both temporal and spiritual, in the times of the Messiah, is delivered out as matter and occasion of great joy, Joe 2:21-27; and another concerning the effusion of the Spirit, which was fulfilled an the day of Pentecost, Joe 2:28-29; and the chapter is concluded with the judgments and desolations that should come upon the land of Judea after this, for their rejection of Christ, though the remnant according to the election of grace should be delivered and saved from the general destruction, Joe 2:30-32.