Project 119: Joel 2:18-32
| Project 119 | Dr. Kely Hatley
“The Lord’s Answer”
Today’s reading passage is demonstration of the gracious and compassionate God we serve. Upon seeing the devastation that His people had endured by the locust swarm God was said to have had pity on His people. The Hebrew word for “pity” in this verse denotes a “softness” to God. God was moved by the repentance of His people to remove the locust swarm and to restore the bounty of His people and their land.
The remaining verses of 19-27 list all of the wonderful things God will do for the people to restore their land and produce from the destruction that was caused by the locusts. He does this to demonstrate both his power and love to His people. Verse 27 states, “Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will My people be shamed” (Joel 2:27, NIV).
The final verses (28-32) are a foretelling of what is to come regarding the day of the Lord, which is most always associated with God’s judgment. Many people see this passage as a prophecy of God’s final judgement. This prophecy began its fulfillment with the day of Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and continues still today. Until the day of judgement appointed (which no one knows) we should heed the lessons of repentance the locust swarm taught the people of Israel and remember that true repentance before God over past sins and transgressions evokes the love and softness of the Lord for His people. Psalm 145:8 states, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 145:8, NIV). Additionally, 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NIV). Take heart as you read about God’s compassion to His people this day, and remember that as a believer, YOU are part of His people too! Praise to the Lord for His compassionate and loving ways toward us.
Joel 2:18-32 (ESV):
The LORD Had Pity
18 Then the LORD became jealous for his land
and had pity on his people.
19 The LORD answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a reproach among the nations.
20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,
and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard into the eastern sea,
and his rear guard into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
for he has done great things.
21 “Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the LORD has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.
24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.
26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
The LORD Will Pour Out His Spirit
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.