21 Blow ye a trumpet in Zion, And shout ye in My holy hill, Tremble do all inhabitants of the earth, For coming is the day of Jehovah, for 'it is' near! 2 A day of darkness and thick darkness, A day of cloud and thick darkness, As darkness spread on the mountains, A people numerous and mighty, Like it there hath not been from of old, And after it there is not again—till the years of generation and generation. 3 Before it consumed hath fire, And after it burn doth a flame, As the garden of Eden 'is' the land before it, And after it a wilderness—a desolation! And also an escape there hath not been to it, 4 As the appearance of horses 'is' its appearance, And as horsemen, so they run. 5 As the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains they skip, As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, As a mighty people set in array for battle. 6 From its face pained are peoples, All faces have gathered paleness. 7 As mighty ones they run, As men of war they go up a wall, And each in his own ways they do go, And they embarrass not their paths. 8 And each his brother they press not, Each in his way they go on, If by the missile they fall, they are not cut off. 9 In the city they run to and fro, On the wall they run, Into houses they go up by the windows, They go in as a thief. 10 At their face trembled hath the earth, Shaken have the heavens, Sun and moon have been black, And stars have gathered up their shining. 11 And Jehovah hath given forth His voice before His force, For very great 'is' His camp, For mighty 'is' the doer of His word, For great 'is' the day of Jehovah—very fearful, And who doth bear it?
12 And also now—an affirmation of Jehovah, Turn ye back unto Me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, And with lamentation. 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn back unto Jehovah your God, For gracious and merciful 'is' He, Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, And He hath repented concerning the evil. 14 Who knoweth—He doth turn back, Yea—He hath repented, And He hath left behind Him a blessing, A present and libation of Jehovah your God? 15 Blow ye a trumpet in Zion, Sanctify a fast—proclaim a restraint.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joel 2:1-15
Commentary on Joel 2:1-14
(Read Joel 2:1-14)
The priests were to alarm the people with the near approach of the Divine judgments. It is the work of ministers to warn of the fatal consequences of sin, and to reveal the wrath from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. The striking description which follows, shows what would attend the devastations of locusts, but may also describe the effects from the ravaging of the land by the Chaldeans. If the alarm of temporal judgments is given to offending nations, how much more should sinners be warned to seek deliverance from the wrath to come! Our business therefore on earth must especially be, to secure an interest in our Lord Jesus Christ; and we should seek to be weaned from objects which will soon be torn from all who now make idols of them. There must be outward expressions of sorrow and shame, fasting, weeping, and mourning; tears for trouble must be turned into tears for the sin that caused it. But rending the garments would be vain, except their hearts were rent by abasement and self-abhorrence; by sorrow for their sins, and separation from them. There is no question but that if we truly repent of our sins, God will forgive them; but whether he will remove affliction is not promised, yet the probability of it should encourage us to repent.
Commentary on Joel 2:15-27
(Read Joel 2:15-27)
The priests and rulers are to appoint a solemn fast. The sinner's supplication is, Spare us, good Lord. God is ready to succour his people; and he waits to be gracious. They prayed that God would spare them, and he answered them. His promises are real answers to the prayers of faith; with him saying and doing are not two things. Some understand these promises figuratively, as pointing to gospel grace, and as fulfilled in the abundant comforts treasured up for believers in the covenant of grace.