_Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain._ A MINISTRY MORALLY AWAKENING In the first eleven verses of this chapter we have a continuation of the address of the prophet to the priests of Judah. It was the duty of the priests to blow the trumpet for the assembling of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path._ ORDER IS HEAVEN’S FIRST LAW Reference is to the orderly march of locusts. Note the order which reigns throughout the whole of God’s world. After this fashion there should be order and arrangement in the Christian Church. Not... [ Continue Reading ]
_The day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can abide it?_ THE JUDGMENTS WHICH SHALL ACCOMPANY THE DAY OF THE LORD I. Judgments productive of great sorrow. “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness.” This imagery is probably taken from the flight of locus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore also now, _saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. THE CHARACTERISTICS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE I. That true repentance consists in the immediate turning of the soul to God, in a mood of deep sorrow for... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who knoweth but He will turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him._ ENCOURAGEMENTS TO HOPE I. The objects of the prophet’s hope. 1. That the Lord would return. This can only be in a way of manifestation; all idea of place or motion being utterly incompatible with a being who fills heaven... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sanctify a fast._ A PENITENTIAL ASSEMBLY I. It must be an assembly which shall be solemn in the spirit in which it meets. “Call a solemn assembly.” In all probability these words refer to the legal purifications which were enjoined upon the people prior to their entering upon the worship of the te... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then will the Lord be Jealous for His land, and pity His people._ THE DIVINE ATTITUDE TOWARDS REPENTANT SOULS I. Toward repentant souls God is strict in the manifestation of a jealous regard. “Then will the Lord be jealous for His land, and pity His people.” Thus we see the change which repentanc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things._ THE INFLUENCE OF A REPENTANT SOUL UPON THE UNIVERSE AT LARGE I. There is a tendency in the influence of a repentant soul to bring back to the material universe the forfeited joy it was destined to possess. “Fear not, O land... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will restore to you the years which the locust hath eaten._ THE GREAT RESTORER Locusts are happily unknown in England. We have only the harmless grasshopper here. Where plagues of locusts are known no one could Wonder that the writer of this book should represent them as a veritable army, leavin... [ Continue Reading ]
_And ye shall eat in plenty._ THE PROMISE OF PLENTY A MOTIVE TO GRATITUDE I. The branches of this promise. 1. “Ye shall eat in plenty.” To eat and to eat in plenty, are pleasures which threatenings have disjoined and separated. 2. Satisfaction. “Be satisfied.” 3. The body is refreshed and nouri... [ Continue Reading ]
_My people shall never be ashamed._ RELIGION, A SOURCE OF CONSTANT CONFIDENCE Joel was the bearer of very heavy tidings. Their sins had exceeded the bounds of Divine patience. I. The character under which the persons mentioned in the text appear before us. He calls them “My people.” This shows th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh._ THE NEW GOSPEL ERA The prophet had encouraged the nation to repentance by announcing the temporal blessings which would be consequent thereon. They would get the former rain, they would get the latter rain. The f... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke._ THE SIROCCO SUGGESTING PROPHETIC FIGURES We have two kinds of sirocco--one accompanied with violent wind, which fills the air with dust and fine sand; and one of a quieter kind, which yet is often mere... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved._ This gracious promise is an instance of the merciful providence of God, so universally displayed in His prophetic revelations, whereby, in the midst of His severest threats of vengeance, He still reserve... [ Continue Reading ]