In 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, 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 10:12-18). 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 7:9-10).
This passage in Joel was referred to by the apostle Peter in Acts 2:16-21, to convince the incredulous multitude that what had happened that morning was not human excitement, but exactly according to the greatest favor God has promised for the coming kingdom, namely, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He did not say that what they saw and heard was the fulfillment of the prophecy, nor was it, but of the same nature.
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 1:21.), 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 12:13), and are built together for a 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 1:14 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 12:39-40), 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).