The Pulpit Commentary — Joel — Section 62

JIJ, '!'HE IIY-IITOREb FROM BPIBJTUAJ, CAPTIVITY ABE BUKXONED TO OBEDrENCE AND PIIAIIIE. 1. 'l'o obedience, bece.u&s they he.vs te.eted the bitter fruits of rebellion, e.nd he.vo learned the leseon tbe.t true happineH lies in cheerful 81.lbjection. z. To praise, because such mercy e.e they he.ve experienced deserves grateful and unceasing ack now- ledgmente.-T, Vere. 2-8.-Retributi()'fl,, Jool'e prophetic foresight beholds the calamitiM that are to come upon the Jews, hie countrymen. Looking back upon the past, we are able by the records of history to verify the justice of these predictione. 'l'he transportations into the Ee.et, the oppreseion under Antiochue, the dispersion by the Romane,-these awful evente in Hebrew history rise before our view. But where shall we look for a fulfilment of the predictions of vengeance e.nd of retribution? Surely God in hie providence has spoiled the spoilers, and led captivity captive 1 There ie but a name and e. memory left of the proud conquerors and the mighty nations that oppressed and scattered Isre.el. An omen this of final judgment--a picture of the purposes of the Eternal. 'l'he Lord reigneth, and none can stay his hand. I. THE OPPRESSION OF Gon'e PEOPLE BY TBErR FOES. 1. The land is parted. The sacred soil is divided among strangers, for the tribes t.o whom it was allotted are dis- possessed. The heirs become slaves, and toil upon their own inheritance. 2. The treasures are ce.rried away. The silver, the gold, the pleasant things, which have been a delight ·to the eyes and an enrichment to the population,-theee are carried oft' t.o adorn the palaces and temples of the conquerors and captors. 3. The inhabitants of the land are led into captivity, are scattered among the nations, far from the homes of their ancestors and the scenes of their childhood. 4. Nay, even worse, the chil:iren are sold as slaves, as worthless trifles, or as ministers to the luxury or the lust of heathen masters. II. THE RESCUE OF Gon's PEOPLE FROM TBEm FOEB. 1. The enemies and oppreeeors shall be themselves defeated and vanquished. The valley of Jehoshaphat, or" the judg- ment of Jehovah," is to be the scene of a righteous retribution, in which the cause of God's people shall be maintained, and their enemies judged. 2. The people of God shall be restored to their dwelling-places, and their former happineee and privileges; the mischief shall be undone. 3. And the oppressors ehe.ll in tum endure the fate they inflicted upon the Lord's people; they who sold Israelites into captivity in the West shall themselves be deported as slaves into the East. From this prediction the great lesson may be learned that the Lord reigneth-that he suffers nothing to happen to his people that he will not overrule for their good and for hie glory.-T. Vera. 9-13.- War and jU<lgment. This is truly prophetic language; for the writer ie not merely relating historical facts, or foretelling future events ; he is uttering great moral and religious· principles. The form these utterances assume is determined by the circumstances of Judah in the time of the prophet; but the truth enunciated is one which is universe.I and all-importe.nt. I. A PICTURE OF WAR. 1. The vastneBB of the scale upon which it is conducted appears from the language employed to designate those who take pa.rt in it. They are "the Gentiles;" "all the na.tiona." 2. The valour and renown of the combatants :i.re set forth in the expressions," the mighty men,"" the men of war," etc. 3. 'l'he military preparation and warlike accoutrements are brought before us very vividly and pic- turesquely in the representation of ploughshares fe.ehioned into swords, and pruning- hooks into spears. 4. The warlike array is denoted by the directions to "assemble," to " come up," etc. II. A PIOTURE ol!' JUDGMENT AND RETBmUTioN. 1. The vast multitudes who intend to gather for battle prove in reality to hnve gathered for judgment. They came in battle array to contend with the Lord of hosts; and lo! they find themselves stan<liug at the bar of the great Judge of a.II, 2. The Lord site upon hie judgment-see.t, his throne, whilst before him a.re gathered all nations. 3. Under two striking figures is set forth the judicial process e.nd the punitive consequences which ensue. The harvest is reaped, the wine-press ie trodden. 'l'he enemies of the Lord and of hie people are, as it were, mown down by the hand of the reaper; their blood flows from the wine-press of the wrath of God.  00 THE BOOK OF JOEL. [on. m. 1-21.