Ver. 18.-Spiritual prosperity. 'l'he language of the prophet in this passage i:i obviously figurative. In poetical terms, the boldness and beauty of which are not exceeded by the graceful and imaginative writers of classical antiquity, Joel depict.-1 the reign of' peace, plenty, and prosperity. Literally these words have not been, a.nd will not be, fulfilled. To some they speak of a restoration of Israel, yet in the future, of a period when all the delights that a nation can enjoy shall be secured in abundance to the deecendan\s of A.bra.ham. It seems a more sober and more profitable interpre- tation to read in these words a prediction of the spiritual prosperity of God's people, whether to be enjoyed upon this earth or in the new heavene and the new earth. L THE MOUNTAINS DROPPING WINE BYUBOl,IZE THE SPIRITUAL JOYB 011' CHRIST'S CHURCH. The Scriptures speak of wine as " making glad the heart of man." The "new wine" of tbe gospel is for the enjoyment of the elect. 'l'he wine of the kingdom is of celestial vintage; they who partake of it are "filled with the Spirit." The joy of the new covenant, the joy of the Lord, is the portion of the rescued, emancipated, and consecrated Israel. II. THE BILLS FLOWING WITH HILK SYUBOLlZE THE SPIRITUAL NUTBllln!'r OF CHRIST'S CHUBCH. We are taught by the apostle to "desire the sincere milk of the Word, that we may grow thereby." Even the babes in Christ can partake of this nourishing Rpiritual diet; but the strong men do not disdain the food. As Canaan was "a land flowing with milk and honey," so the Church of the blessed Saviour abounds with all that can enrich and nourish and bless the people of God. "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more." Ill. TH.E BIVEBS FLOWING WITH WATERS BYlrlB0LIZE THE REVIVAL AYO BEFBESill[l!lNT ol!' CHRIST'S OntrncH. Several of the prophets, expatiating (as they loved to do) upon the glorious prospect afforded them by inspiration of the future of the Church, describe one element of that h11ppy future by the figure of a river flowing from its source in th" Lord's house at Jerusalem, and fertilizing the soil until it should enter the Dead Sea or the Mediterranean. And the Apostle John behelcl the river of the water of life, 62 THE BOOK OF JOEL. [en. m. 1-21.
flowing out of t.hc throne of God a.nd of the Le.mb. How exact is the corrcspondenco bet wecn the prcdiclion a.nd the rea.lity ! It WM in Jerusalem that Jesus was con- demned, and hard by that he suffered; a.nd his cross was the source of " river of spiritual blessing to mankind. Whe.-ever his Spirit penetrates, there lire is revived souls 9:r~ 1111,·ed, society is purified, wee.riness i~ refresh!"1• ~ot ee.rth only, but heaven: JE fertilized and cheered by the water which Chnst gives in a sweet, unceasing slream.-T.
Ver. 13.-A harvest sermon. "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe." Joel is alluding here to a coming judgment, in which the results of men's sins would appear, and each would reap as he had sown. ~ur Lord's parable of the tares, which points us onward to a future harvest, 'l'ery fitly illustrates these words. The harvest of each year is fraught with instruction to us, reminding us as it does of the bounty which supplies our needs, the fidelity which remembers our toil, and the certainty of retribu- tion and reward being apportioned to the careless and to the faithful. To the disciple of the Lord Jesus no phase of nature should be a blank. Each contains lessons which arc as truly written with the finger of God as were the laws on tables of stone. Ask- ing the aid of him who can lead us into all truth, let us see what truths appear io. every harvest-field. 0