18 Then will the LORD H3068 be jealous H7065 for his land, H776 and pity H2550 his people. H5971
So the angel H4397 that communed H1696 with me said H559 unto me, Cry H7121 thou, saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 I am jealous H7065 for Jerusalem H3389 and for Zion H6726 with a great H1419 jealousy. H7068
Behold, G2400 we count them happy G3106 which endure. G5278 Ye have heard G191 of the patience G5281 of Job, G2492 and G2532 have seen G1492 the end G5056 of the Lord; G2962 that G3754 the Lord G2962 is G2076 very pitiful, G4184 and G2532 of tender mercy. G3629
Look down H5027 from heaven, H8064 and behold H7200 from the habitation H2073 of thy holiness H6944 and of thy glory: H8597 where is thy zeal H7068 and thy strength, H1369 the sounding H1995 of thy bowels H4578 and of thy mercies H7356 toward me? are they restrained? H662
And the sons H1121 of strangers H5236 shall build up H1129 thy walls, H2346 and their kings H4428 shall minister H8334 unto thee: for in my wrath H7110 I smote H5221 thee, but in my favour H7522 have I had mercy H7355 on thee.
How shall I give thee up, H5414 Ephraim? H669 how shall I deliver H4042 thee, Israel? H3478 how shall I make H5414 thee as Admah? H126 how shall I set H7760 thee as Zeboim? H6636 mine heart H3820 is turned H2015 within me, my repentings H5150 are kindled H3648 together. H3162 I will not execute H6213 the fierceness H2740 of mine anger, H639 I will not return H7725 to destroy H7843 Ephraim: H669 for I am God, H410 and not man; H376 the Holy One H6918 in the midst H7130 of thee: and I will not enter H935 into the city. H5892
And G2532 he arose, G450 and came G2064 to G4314 his G1438 father. G3962 But G1161 when he G846 was yet G2089 a great way G3112 off, G568 his G846 father G3962 saw G1492 him, G846 and G2532 had compassion, G4697 and G2532 ran, G5143 and fell G1968 on G1909 his G846 neck, G5137 and G2532 kissed G2705 him. G846
They provoked him to jealousy H7065 with strange H2114 gods, with abominations H8441 provoked they him to anger. H3707
It is of the LORD'S H3068 mercies H2617 that we are not consumed, H8552 because his compassions H7356 fail H3615 not.
Is Ephraim H669 my dear H3357 son? H1121 is he a pleasant H8191 child? H3206 for since H1767 I spake H1696 against him, I do earnestly H2142 remember H2142 him still: therefore my bowels H4578 are troubled H1993 for him; I will surely H7355 have mercy H7355 upon him, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
The LORD H3068 shall go forth H3318 as a mighty man, H1368 he shall stir up H5782 jealousy H7068 like a man H376 of war: H4421 he shall cry, H7321 yea, roar; H6873 he shall prevail H1396 against his enemies. H341
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Joel 2
Commentary on Joel 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter we have,
Thus the beginning of this chapter is made terrible with the tokens of God's wrath, but the latter end of it made comfortable with the assurances of his favour, and it is in the way of repentance that this blessed change is made; so that, though it is only the last paragraph of the chapter that points directly at gospel-times, yet the whole may be improved as a type and figure, representing the curses of the law invading men for their sins, and the comforts of the gospel flowing in to them upon their repentance.
Joe 2:1-11
Here we have God contending with his own professing people for their sins and executing upon them the judgment written in the law (Deu. 28:42), The fruit of thy land shall the locust consume, which was one of those diseases of Egypt that God would bring upon them, v. 60.
Joe 2:12-17
We have here an earnest exhortation to repentance, inferred from that desolating judgment described and threatened in the foregoing verses: Therefore now turn you to the Lord.
Joe 2:18-27
See how ready God is to succour and relieve his people, how he waits to be gracious; as soon as ever they humble themselves under this hand, and pray, and seek his face, he immediately meets them with his favours. They prayed that God would spare them, and see here with what good words and comfortable words he answered them; for God's promises are real answers to the prayers of faith, because with him saying and doing are not two things. Now observe,
Joe 2:28-32
The promises of corn, and wine, and oil, in the foregoing verses, would be very acceptable to a wasted country; but here we are taught that we must not rest in those things. God has reserved some better things for us, and these verses have reference to those better things, both the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory, with the happiness of true believers in both. We are here told,