Joel 2 18 27 ESV Then the Lord

Joel 2: 18 -27, ESV Then the Lord became jealous for his land had pity on his people.

The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

“I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things.

“Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!

Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

“Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land had pity on his people. 19 The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

20 “I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. (Joel 2: 18 -20, ESV)

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land had pity on his people.

19 The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations

20 “I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. (Joel 2: 18 -20, ESV)

21 “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! 22 Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

23 “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. (Joel 2: 21 -23, ESV)

21 “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!

22 Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

23 “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. (Joel 2: 21 -23, ESV)

24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. (Joel 2: 24, ESV)

25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. (Joel 2: 24 -26, ESV)

25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. (Joel 2: 24 -26, ESV)

Main Point • These verses show what happens if they do repent • They will experience blessings rather than curses • The great judgment of exile will pass by God’s grace • The restoration which they experience is full

Application Points • Sovereignty of God in Wrath • The first place we see is that God is a judging God • This is a good thing • When do we see this occur? When God says, “Which I sent among you” • The events are not random occurrences • God is sovereign over this world • He will use any means to judge evil • Drought, flooding, enemy armies • Why is this a good thing? • From the human perspective, it is hard to see how it would be good for others to suffer or face judgment

Application Points • Sovereignty of God in Wrath (2) • When we consider judgment we consider Jesus • When Lazarus had died, He was sorrowful, but also angry/indignant • Why was this the case? • Is Christ mad at His Father for having this happen? • He is sorrowful over the damage of the devil and sin • We too recognize this, that it is not good in the sense that it is not as it should have been • With human freedom people commit sins and judgment occurs • But judgment is also good • Darkness deserves justice • It is a good thing when justice and righteousness occurs

Application Points • Sovereignty of God in Wrath (3) • Judgment from God is always good • God does not judge unjustly • We should praise God for His judgments, knowing that He has made the right, good, judgment • We can do this because we know God • He is truly wonderful • The point, then, is to recognize God is just • It encourages us to further know God • Knowing God’s justice is always good whether we are able to see the good or not

Application Points • Sovereignty of God in Restoration • Restoration is a common theme throughout the Scriptures • We see it from the moment of God cursing the world through the fall and onward • What do we notice about restoration? • We notice it is all done by God’s grace • He is the one who blesses • This is all the work of God, it is not the people who are able to do these things, but God • Far too often we rely too much on ourselves • “I am strong enough by myself to do this or that” • “We can bring our own blessings if we do x, y, z”

Application Points • Sovereignty of God in Restoration (2) • There is this belief that we can cause growth • Yet, we have seen many times how this is not the case • What we find is not growth, just numbers • True growth from God will lead individuals to come to Church not because of their personal dispositions • True growth occurs when our hearts are rent before God • When we seek to turn toward Him, repenting of sin • This is true growth, a growth that does not come by our own hands • We see this with the people in Joel’s time • Before the people even recognized their need for repentance, God first intercedes on their behalf • If God does not first call, there is no repentance

Application Points • Sovereignty of God in Restoration (3) • God is involved in all of it, sovereign over all of it • We, who are in Christ, can and should praise God for this • If God brings restoration, then it is a lasting restoration • If God is in it, then it will last • He who began a good work in you will bring it about to completion (Philippians 1: 6) • The ancients were promised restoration rather than annihilation • We are like those who were in need of intercession to tell us of our need for repentance • Instead of receiving the wrath and judgment which we deserved, we too receive restoration which comes His hand

Application Points • Sovereignty of God in Restoration (4) • The greatest restoration would be that the people would know that God was with them • The same is true for us • We know God is with us through Christ • He has scattered our enemies, has brought redemption, and He has done it all by His own hand • It is knowing this we should with acclamation that God has done great things! • Hasn’t He brought redemption, so safe yet so just? • Has He not, by His infinite wisdom, knowledge, justice, and love, brought us out of the pit?

Application Points • Sovereignty of God in Restoration (5) • May His Name ever be praised for what He has accomplished! • For the restoration, and the love • For the reality that once He has us He will not let us go • All I can say is, keep up with repentance and faith • Turn toward Him and know the blessing which He has promised • Christ redeems even that which the world has scathed • Our God is a God of wrath, but also a God of restoration • He is the God of curses, and blessings • Be encouraged to not settle for anything less • There is no more shame, no more guilt, there is only love

• Application Points The Gospel • Origins • Where we come from • Fall • What happened with the world • Redemption • God brings salvation and fixes the world • Future • Where it all leads…to either judgment or glorification