Ver. 9.-BeligiouB privatwnB. The old covenant was one especially characterized by human ministrations and exte~ observances and solemnities. Apart from priests and sacrifices its purposes could not have been accompliahed, and its witness to the world would ha:ve been unintelligible and vai-n. · No wonder that to the Hebrew mind no prospect was more terrible tha,n the c~tion ·Qf public worahip, of public offerings, of sacerdotal services. In the_epiritual economy under which we live, the case is aome- what different. Yet np enlighteJl.ed.mind can contemplate without concern, without dismay, a state Qf society in which; religious offices should be suppressed and religious ministrations silenced. J. THE SUJ;IPENSION OF. THE QF:,XOES OJI' RELIGION WOULD INVOLVE THE SUSPENSION OF THE PUDLIO COMMUNICATION OF Goo's WILL TO MAN. IJ. IT WOULD INVOLVE THE DISCONTINUANCE Oil' HUMAN FELLOWSHIP IN THE LOFTIEST IlELATIONB·ANII THE MOST BENEFICIAL EXERCISES. III. 1T WOULD INVOLVE THE CESSATION OF A UNITED AND P011LIO PRESENTATION OF TH·E SAORIFIOEB DUE,F!lOM MAN .TO Gon.-T.
Ver. 12.-The withering of foy. The de:icription given by the prophet of the devasta- tion and misery caused by the horrible plague of locust.II is so graphic and so frightful, that the very strong lang11agtl in which the effect produetod upon the inhabitants of the land is portrayed cannot be deemed exaggerated. The hnebandmen a.re covered with shame, and joy is withertM in all hearts. J. Joy lS N4TUBAL TO MAN,,:AND,.18 .THE APPOINTMEl!IT OJ' A BENEVOLENT CREATOR. It is occasioned by the plentiful produce of the earth, by the possession of health and by circumstances of comfort, by the, solace of human affection. Joy is a motive to activity, and diffuses itself from heart, to heart, and raises the tone of society. A joyless life man was not designed to lead. II. THE VIBI'l'ATION OF OALAMI'l'Y MAY. WITHER JOY. It is a plant of great beauty, but also of great delicacy, Exposed to the fierce winds of adversity, this fair plant withers and decays. Such is the. constitution of the world, and such the changeable- ness of life, that this event does sometimes occur, as in the circumstances describe,! in this passage by the Prophet Joel. Ill. EVEN 'l'UE WITBEIUNG OF JOY MAY BE BANW'IFIED AND OVERRULED FOR GOOD BY 'l'RUE RELIGION. It may lead the afllictecl to seek consolation and happiness in a. higher than any earthly source. Especially does the gospel of Christ, by revealing unto U8 as our Saviour "a Man of sorrows," teach us that there a.re joys of benevolence and self- sacrifice whioh are preferable to all delights of sense, to all enrichments of worldly prosperity.-T.
Ver. 14.-.il/ad. The. afflictions which befell Judah are represented as producing a deep impression upon the whole nation, and as justifying the calling of a. gen~ra.1_ fMt. I. TnosE WHO FAST, This is an exorcise which cannot be performed v1canously. 1. All the inhabitants of the land take part in it. 2. The eldel'll of the people, as representatives and leaders, are especially summoned. to attend. . . . II. 'l'uE TOKENS OP FASTING, Mere abstinence from food or from dehc~1cs 1s not religious fasting. Humiliation anu contrition 11ro the essentials, Yet tbeso m1iy exprc~~ , 'l'liE DOOK OF JO~t. tort. t. 1-20.
thPmsch•es in renunciation of ordinary punmlte, rcfneal of ordinary plcM•mie, tho I\Rl'111nption of mourning g&rmente, the refusal of wonted repose nnd comfort III. Tm: RET,IGroUB A8PEC'l'll OF FASTING, There must be ecknowledg~cnt of ein before God, with confeB11ion &nd contrition. The Lord's ho1188 must be eought. The confeseion must be general and public. The cry of pr&yer must be heard in the srmc- tuary. Such a fe.st will not be observed in Ve.in. It will prepe.re the way for the day of reconciliation, a.nd for the fea.st of gladncss.-T.
Ver. 15:-''. T~ day ojtM Lora." ThiA phrase le peculiarly Joel'e, and it le apparently used by him in different senses. Of these we notice three. l. ~'HE DAY OF~ L?BD 18 A DAY OF CALA~Y A.ND BETBIDUTION. This ie plain from its further designation as a day of destruction, and from the prefatory exclamation "Alas!" with which it is introduced. Superstition, no doubt, has often misinterpreted the calamities of human life; yet it would be insensibility and spiritual blindness not t.o recognize the presence of God in the day of adversity. Such a day is the Lord's as reminding ns of the Lord's Kingship over creation, and as summoning us to sin~ere repentance towards God. IL THE DAY OF THE LoRD IBA DAY OF JUDGHENT. The retribut.ion of the present is an earnest of the day of recompense to 11.ll mankind, when the Judo-e of all shall summon all nations t.o his bar. " III. THE DAY OF THE LOBD IS TO HIS PEOPLE TBE DAY OF BPmITUAL AND llll'ERISH· ABLE BLESSING. So the Apostle Peter interprets the language of the Prophet Joel. The outpouring of 8piritual hlessing, the effecting of spiritual deliverance, the fulfilling of the purposes of infinite mercy, shall all come about in that promised and expected day.-T.
Vers.17, 18.-TMdssoULtion of the lanul,. Whether actually and literally by a pla!a!;ue of locust.Es, or by a hostile incnrsion such as a plague of this kind might well typify, Judah was overrun, afflicted, and cuxsed. The picture is one of unrelieved gloom and misery. l. THE PUXITIVE JUDGHENTB OF GoD BEACH HEN THROUGH THE 0BOPS OF THE FIELD, A.'l>"'D THE HERDS A.ND FLOCKS OF TBE PASTURE. The necessaries of life, the constituents of wealth, are in the hand of God. He rules not only in heaven but upon earth. It may be doubted whether we are at liberty confidently to attribute to Divine displeasure the sufferings which befall nations in the way of disaster and fa.mine; but in this passage this interpretation is given upon prophetic authority. II. SUCH' JUDGKENTB ABE INTENDED TO SUHHON THOSE AFFLICTED WITH THEM TO CONTRITION AND nEPENT.ANCE. It may be that only by some such means can the hard heart be broken, a.nd brought to true humiliation and penitence. Ill. SUCH JUDGIIIENTS SHOULD LEAD HEN TO SEEK THEIB mGIIEST GOOD, NOT IN PEl!ISHA.Bl,E POSSESSIONS, BUT IN SPmlTUA.L ENBI0HHENT. To many men poverty, losses worldly ruin, have been the means of the highest happiness. Well is it if, losing the gifts, we find the Giver; losing the streams, we find the Fountain. '!'he soul may learn to cry, "Thou art my Portion, 0 my God! "-T.