Joel 2

Joel 2

Henry comments "Thus does it repent the Lord concerning his servants, when they repent, and, to show how perfectly he is reconciled to them, he makes good the damage they have sustained by his judgments, and, like the jailer, washes their stripes. Though, in justice, he distrained upon them, and did them no wrong, yet, in compassion, he makes restitution; as the father of the prodigal, upon his return, made up all he had" Duane Garrett - God’s people experience sorrow and loss, but they also experience restoration. In the end that which is gained far outweighs that which was lost. God does not allow the years of suffering to go unrewarded. After punishment comes comfort (Isa 40:1–2), and in the end God will wipe away every tear from the eyes of his people (Rev 7:17). Keil and Delitzsch on the years (shanah - 01040) - The plural, shânīm (years), furnishes no certain proof that Joel referred in ch. 1 to swarms of locusts of several successive years; but is used either with indefinite generality, as in Genesis 21:7, or with a distinct significance, viz., as a poetical expression denoting the greatness and violence of the devastation. (Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament) JEHOVAH'S GREAT ARMY My great army which I sent among you - Notice that My great army signifies God sends the army. This is much like when God called Nebuchadnezzar "My servant" ("I will send to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land" - Jer 25:9). Note also the phrase among you. This signifies the army is sent among His Chosen People. Suffice it to say that no army of insects or humans can attack Israel unless the Lord God sends it or allows it. He is sovereign and in full control. Now here is the question - Does this army refer only to the locusts described in chapter 1 or does it have an eschatological meaning? In other words does this description refer to a great army in the Day of the Lord in the last days? A number of commentators favor this as reference to the "army" of locusts in chapter 1 (cf Joel 1:6) but they admit the fact Joel 2:25 has the time phrase "years" which would imply more than one locust invasion. On the other hand the fact that Joel 2:25 is clearly in a section which describes the Day of the Lord, would support that this army is not just locusts and that the years are not just past years but include the years in the Day of the Lord. While John MacArthur does not have a specific comment on the timing of Joel 2:25, he definitely includes it in the section entitled "The Day of the Lord Described: Eschatological (Joel 2:18-3:21)" Here is his outline A. Introduction (2:18–20) B. Material Restoration (2:21–27) C. Spiritual Restoration (2:28–32) D. National Restoration (3:1–21) Notice that Joel 2:25 is in the section subtitled "Material Restoration (2:21-27)" Assuming this is an army in the last days, it is important to note that the sovereign God has a redemptive purpose for sending this army against Israel and it is described in Zechariah 12-14. (See Zech 12:1-3-note, then Zech 12:10-14-note, then Zech 13:1-note, then Zech 13:8-9-note)