Joel 2:16-18

16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”

The LORD’s Answer

18 Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people.

Joel 2:16-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOEL 2

In this chapter a further account is given of the judgment of the locusts and caterpillars, or of those who are designed by them, Joe 2:1-11; the people of the Jews are called to repentance, humiliation, and fasting, urged from the grace and goodness of God, his jealousy and pity for his people, and the answer of prayer that might he expected from him upon this, even to the removal of the calamity, Joe 2:12-20; a prophecy of good things, both temporal and spiritual, in the times of the Messiah, is delivered out as matter and occasion of great joy, Joe 2:21-27; and another concerning the effusion of the Spirit, which was fulfilled an the day of Pentecost, Joe 2:28-29; and the chapter is concluded with the judgments and desolations that should come upon the land of Judea after this, for their rejection of Christ, though the remnant according to the election of grace should be delivered and saved from the general destruction, Joe 2:30-32.

Cross References 11

  • 1. S Exodus 19:10,22
  • 2. Joel 1:2
  • 3. Psalms 19:5
  • 4. Joel 1:13
  • 5. S Isaiah 22:12
  • 6. Ezekiel 8:16; Matthew 23:35
  • 7. Deuteronomy 9:26-29; Psalms 44:13
  • 8. S 1 Kings 9:7; S Job 17:6
  • 9. S Psalms 42:3
  • 10. S Isaiah 26:11; Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 8:2
  • 11. S Psalms 72:13
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