Joel 2

Joel 2
In Numbers 10:9,9And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. (Numbers 10:9) on the occasion of war, an alarm was to be sounded. It is this that is referred to in the first verse, and Zion, God’s Holy mountain at Jerusalem, is in view, with all the inhabitants of the land called on to tremble, because the day of Jehovah’s coming, is at hand.
In the verse mentioned, in Numbers 9, there was a promise of deliverance from enemies, and this took place on the first appearance of the Assyrian (2 Kings 18-19); here, as often in the prophetic Scriptures, there is first a partial fulfillment, the complete fulfillment awaiting a day still future.
This chapter, then, is principally concerned with the future appearance of the Assyrian in the land of Israel. There is today no nation called Assyria, but there will be again, when the Old Testament prophecies are being fulfilled, the Jews being then in Palestine under the protection of European nations. At that time, the power of which Isaiah speaks as the Assyrian, and Daniel as the king of the north, will descend on Palestine with a vast army, and Jerusalem will be captured (Zechariah 14). It will be a judgment from God on the apostate Jews; thus verse 11 speaks of the attacking forces as His army, His camp.
Fearful will that day be in the land of Israel, and in Jerusalem, as verses 2-10 make plain. Yet mercy is offered (verses 12-14). For those who will seek it with true repentance, the way is open (verses 15-17).
The trumpet blowing in verse 15 is that provided for in Numbers 10:30,30And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. (Numbers 10:30) but it will be seen that it is now to be associated with the alarm of war in verse 9 of that chapter, tile congregation (the believing remnant of the Jews) in faith claiming the promise of the latter part of that verse: “Ye shall be remembered bore the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.”
Nor will faith’s pleading be in vain (verses 18-27); the answer of God is worthy of Himself, and the fullest earthly blessing will be theirs who truly seek His face. They are “Children of Zion” (verse 23), and gladness and rejoicing are their portion thenceforth; prayer will have given place to praise (verse 20). Again, as of old, God will dwell in the midst of Israel, their God, nor will they seek another.
In verse 20 the “east sea” is the Dead Sea, and the “utmost sea” is the Mediterranean. The last clause of this verse should be read as in the marginal note, “because he hath magnified himself to do great things” (See Isaiah 10:12-1812Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. 13For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: 14And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. 15Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. 16Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. 17And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; 18And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. (Isaiah 10:12‑18)). In verse 24, “fats”, is vats. Verse 25 refers to the Assyrian, of whose coming the locust plague of chapter 1 was an illustration.
“And it shall come to pass afterward”,—after the fulfillment of the promised judgments and the blessing of Israel in their land as described in verses 1-27 — “that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh” (verse 28). “All flesh” takes in the saved Gentiles as well as Jews, for though Israel will, during the Millennium, stand in very close relationship with God, a countless number of Gentiles will then be blessed also (Revelation 7:9-109After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9‑10)).
The Holy Spirit in Old Testament times came upon “holy men of God” who “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:2121For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21).), but He did not indwell believers until the day of Pentecost (Acts 2); in His power they have all been baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles (1 Corinthians 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)), and are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)); beside much more that the Scriptures reveal regarding His present work, He is the earnest of the believer’s inheritance (Ephesians 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14) These blessings are peculiar to the present dispensation, and the passage in Joel does not promise any of them to the earthly saints who will be in the Millennium.
Verses 30-32: In our times, no signs are given but that of Jonas the prophet (Matthew 12:39-4039But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:39‑40)), but when the present day of grace is over, and God is about to show His power, there will be wonders, warning the world of what is to come (See Revelation 6, and following chapters).