The Pulpit Commentary — Joel — Section 45

Ver. 32.-The call of the ron;vkted. The fulfilment of this prophecy took place on the Day of Pentecost. Then God poured out his Spirit from on high, and the despised disciples were inspired to speak, while multitudes were convinced of their sin against Messiah, and cried not in vain for mercy and salvation. Such results still follow the effusion of the Holy Spirit npon the Chnrch in answer to the prayers of the faithful. We will consider the special effect alluded to in our t.ext, namely, the cry of those convicted of sin. I. THE CONDITION OF THE CONTRITE. They are in danger, or they would not require to be "delivered." Those who heard the apostles ' 1 were pricked in th1iir heart, and said unto Peter and t.o the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" for they knew that they had sinned against God in the rejection of his Son. • 1. They were guuty nf sin. Who is not? Even children have evil tendencies which respond to temptation. The heart of a child is like a pool of wat.er which seems perfectly clear, bnt let it be once stirred, and it is at once beclouded. Sin is a terrible thing. Iu Scripture it is spoken of as a debt we cannot pay, as a burden we cannot bear, as a thief who robs us, as a leprosy which corrupts us, and as a poison that ends in death. Sin has insulted God and robbed him of his children, and nailed the Lord Jesus Christ to the cross. Bnt however widespread and deadly its influence, "whosoever shall call . on the Name of the Lord shall be delivered." 2. They were convicted of sin. Unless they had been they would not have called upon God. It is not simply a knowledge that all men are sinners which iB required, but a sense of our personal responsibiJ.ity,in regard to sin. There is a great difference between knowing that fire bums, and know- ing that we are being burnt. 3. They were =victed by the Holy Spirit. Yet he is called "the Comforter." He is likened to the dove, to the breath which Jesus breathed, to the dew that lights npon the grass, and to the oil of joy. ~evertheless, it is his work to "convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of a Judgment to come; " and in doing so he overwhelms sinners with a sense of shame and peril. •But for this there would be no crv and no deliverance. Pain is a necessary stage of cure in 1mch a disease as sin. If a· wound has been long neglected, the wise surgeon will take off all the coverings which have been wrapped over it in ignorance, and will give new agony for a time, if only he is able to get rid of the venom. But after that he will bind it up. So must the Holy Spirit wound before he heals. We mnst have the broken heart before God can bind it up. Conviction of sin shows that God has not given Ill! up. IL THE CRY OF THE CONTRITE. It has been said that we are not saved by prayer, but we cannot be saved without it. Prayer is the soul going to its refuge, or rather it is the soul laying hold on the hand that draws it into the refuge. 1. Prayer is the ordi,. nance of God. It is as much a law as is the Jaw of gravitation, and is proved by experiment, not by a prwri argument as to its probability. True, God is our loving Father; but unless we arise and go to him as the prodigal pid, we shall not have the welcome and the kiBB, the robe and the music. 2. Prayer implies faith 'and l1ope. We mUBt have faith in the character of God-in his "Name," to use the phrase in our text-that is, in what he hae made known of himself. For example, he is revealed' w us as the Hol11 One; so that we ce.n only go to him when we are really wishing .to, OD, II.1-32,] 'fHE BOOK OF JOEL. 43