Joel 2:21-27
21 Do not fear, land; shout for joy and rejoice,
For the Lord has done great things.
22 Do not fear, animals of the field,
For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green,
For the tree has produced its fruit,
The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full.
23 So shout for joy, you sons of Zion,
And rejoice in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the early rain for your vindication.
And He has brought down for you the rain,
The early and latter rain as before.
24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,
And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil.
25 “Then I will compensate 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.
26 “You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied,
And you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
Then My people will never be put to shame.
27 “So 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.
The Restoration of the Land of Israel (2)
The joy of victory
In the previous passage, it was prophesied that the third invasion against Israel would be by a human army. However, all the armies that seek to destroy Israel will themselves be destroyed (the battle of Armageddon), because the Lord will fight for Israel and will have victory. At that time, three things will rejoice. (1) The land will rejoice, because the Lord has done great things. (2) The animal world will also rejoice, because pastures will spring up in the barren wilderness and abundant food will be promised. Moreover, the fig tree and the vine, which had once withered, will again bear rich fruit. (3) The people of Israel (the sons of Zion) will also rejoice and be glad in the Lord. All of the above prophecies are related to the Messianic Kingdom (the Millennial Kingdom). Through the Messiah’s second coming, the Creation will once again be restored to its former glory.
The reason to rejoice
Let us consider why the people of Israel will rejoice. (1) They will be given the Messiah. Verse 23 says, “For He has given you the early rain,” but this is a phrase that should be translated as “He has given you the teacher of righteousness.” In other words, the people of Israel will be given the Messiah, who is the “Teacher of Righteousness.” There is no greater joy than being given the Messiah. (2) The land of Israel will receive the rain needed in each season. The early rain falls in the autumn, and the latter rain falls in the spring. Through these rains, an abundant harvest will be assured, the threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. (3) For the same number of years in which they suffered under God’s judgment, blessings from the Lord will be poured out. As a result, the people of Israel will praise the name of the Lord. The summary of today’s passage is found in verse 27: “So 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.” What a wonderful promise this is. Our God is indeed in our midst. The assurance that we are walking with the Lord each day is the pride and strength of Christians. Let us continue to follow the Lord and go out into this world today.
Today's prayer
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, You are in our midst and You ensure that we will not be put to shame. I will follow You. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.