The Pulpit Commentary — Joel — Section 36

diapleuure npon them, from which the inference he.d been either that they had forse.ken God, or that he had forgotten them; and that there had been unf&ithfulness on hi ■ side or on thein, or on both. Now, however, they have returned to hlm in penltonce and he hM reoeived them in mercy; and thus their repro&ch is rolled &way and thei: reputation retrieved. 4. The removal of all cause of fear, Tho promise de plenty is bRcked by the 88Burance that the power which plagued them is doomed to destruction, The in,•ading &rmy that had destroyeti so much is now in tum to he diapersed and defeated. (1) They had made a fruitful·le.nd barren and desolate, and now they are to be driven away into a land barren and d8I01ate, there to perish for ever. (2) They had. been the rod in God's ha.nd for the punishment of a sinful people ; o.nd now that that rod hns done its work, it is broken in pieces and flung away. Nothing is left of thoee pestilent swarms aave the stench of their putrefying carCBSee ; so with those wicked instruments which 11, wise Providence sometimes employs for the chastisement of hie disobedient children, nought shall relllil.i.n of them except the ill odour of their memory, (3) The relief is complete. "When an affliction," it ha.a been observed, "h&B done its work, it shall be removed in mercy, &B the locusts of Canaan were from a penitent people, not as the locusts of Egypt were removed in wrath from an impenitent prince, only to make room for another plague." They had done grea.t things to the detriment of God's people, and dealt much mischief to their possessions arul. property ; now God does yet grca.ter things for the benefit of his people, and in the destruction of their enemies. Vers. 21-27.-Loss repaired. These verses contain an amplification of the pre- ceding promises by way of stronger assurance and greater comfort to his people. There is also an application of the same, in which, by a bold but beautiful personification, the land itself, beasts of the field, as well as the children of Zion, are called to joy and gladness. I. REJOICINGS ENJOINED. 1. The call to joy is addressed to things animate and inanimate, to animals rational and irrational; while the expression for joyfulness is suitably and snfficiently raised. Negatively, it is the absence or fear; positively,· it is gladness and exultation. 2. The contrast is also very expressive. When the plague of locusts was approaching or had actually arrived, the land mourned; now it is called on not only to lay a.side fear and divest itself or e.11 apprehension, but to lear, for joy and rejoice. IL REASONS ASSIGNED. In each case the ea.use or rejoicing is subjoined. 1. First comes the general ste.t.ement, " For the Lord will do great things;" more correctly, "bath done great things." He had done great things and terrible in chastising his erring children and punishing his enemies; but much greater things and more grac!ous be did when he repelled the invader and relieved his distressed people. Great thmge does God do in wrath, greater still in mercy. " And thongh hie arm be strong to smite, 'Tie stronger still to eave." 2. The next reason assigned for rejoicing contains several particulars relatin~ to the pesture-gronnds and h:nit trees. The pastur~s had been devoured as by fi~e; now they spring into new life, and are clotJled with fresh young fe.ss. The vme was dried up, the fig tree languished, the pomegranate,. palm, ~n apple tree, yea., all the trees of the :field were withered; now they yield their strength, and are, become vigorous and fruitful. When a man's ways please t~e Lord, hie_ ene11;1ies are at peace with him, and the very stones ?f the field are in !~ague. with him; in like manner, when God is at peace with his people and they with h1ru, through mutual reconciliation cemented by the blood ?f the ~rose, all_ the _creatures of God are their serve.nu. 3. Th'e third reason assigned is the gift of rain, suitable e.nd seasonable -the former rain and the latter rain, with the necessary results, namely, floors full of wheat and vats overflowing with wine and oil. Pusey follows those who understand moreh' in the sense of " teacher " as the 'J'arpim, which renders the clause, " Has restored to yo~ your instructor [ o~, 'instru~tors '] in righteousness; ~• and the Vulga~e, "Teacher of righteonsness;" the Sep~agint, follo'!"ed by the Syriac and the Arabic, "The foods unto righteousne1>B," HIB eomroent IB1 11 It seems most proha,le that en. 11. 1-32,] THE BOOK OF JOEL, 33