CRITICAL NOTES.]
Joel 2:15. Blow] Convene the people.
Joel 2:16-17.] No age and condition exempted, for all deserve punishment; the joy of the bride and bridegroom even must give place to penitential mourning.
Joel 2:17.] The priests must take their position, and pray to God on behalf of his covenant people.
HOMILETICS
A CALL TO PUBLIC REPENTANCE.—Joel 2:15-17
Once more a day must be set apart for public fasting and humiliation. Personal repentance when genuine will lead to public confession. A sense of sin in the hearts of individuals will produce fruit and find expression in the actions of the community. Hence all the nation are summoned to solemn assembly. “Blow the trumpet in Zion.”
I. Great national danger urged them to public assembly. The nation is endangered by sin, sorrow has fallen upon all ranks, and sympathy unites them into one. Assemblies are called for scientific and political purposes; but no assembly so solemn as that called by natural calamity. Affliction cements the hearts and binds the hopes of nations. It is in vain to sound an alarm for war, to blow the trumpet and muster our armies, without the favour of God. The most effectual call is that of a Church or a nation to repentance. The most powerful defence is universal penitence and prayer to God. By this alone can we overcome our enemies and avert the judgment of God. “Let tyrants fear,” cried Queen Elizabeth when threatened with the Spanish invasion; “I put my trust in God, and in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects.” “For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.”
II. None of the nation were exempt from the call to public assembly. “Gather the people.”
1. The aged must assemble. “Assemble the elders.” Men of understanding and ripe in years must be active and eminent examples in times of fasting and humiliation. Wisdom and experience belong to them, advice and help are expected from them.
2. Children must not be exempt. “Gather the children and those that suck the breasts.” The youngest and most helpless were involved in parental danger, and must touch parental hearts. The sight would be very affecting, and if God spared Nineveh for the sake of the children, he might spare Israel. The prayers of the aged and the cries of the young may not avail with men, but they are power with God. “All Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives and their children” (2 Chronicles 20:13).
3. The newly married must obey the call. “Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber and the bride out of her closet.” Marriage joy must give place to national fasts, and feasting must be turned into mourning. There is a time for all things, and private interests must give place to public duties. The raptures of love must be forgotten in the guilt of the nation. It is mockery to spend time in making merry which ought to be consecrated to God in sorrow. All unfit for battle and all exempt from war (Deuteronomy 24:5); all classes of the community, the aged and the young, the mirthful and the mournful, the priests and the people, were required to attend. “In that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth” (Isaiah 22:12)
III. National confession was the object of public assembly. It was not an assembly for social entertainment and mirth. Not mere attendance and cessation from toil were required. It was “a solemn assembly,” a meeting for deep humiliation before God.
1. Confession was made through their public representatives. The priests, “the ministers of the Lord” in dignity and office, must set the example, lead the assembly in weeping and prayer. In front of the Holy Place, in which Jehovah was enshrined, they must bend and plead for the people. Ministers should ever be intercessors for the nation, feel the condition of men, and urge them by precept and example to devote themselves to God.
2. Confession was made on national grounds. Prayer is based on grounds which should never be forgotten by God’s people in like circumstances. It is a special liturgy for the solemn occasion. And God who reads the heart in the words will surely hear the words which he himself breathes in the heart. Mercy is the common cry. Punishment is deserved, but all were earnest in praying for deliverance from famine and reproach. “Spare thy people, O Lord.” (l) God’s covenant relation is pleaded. Spare us, not because we weep and fast, not because we deserve mercy, but because we are thine heritage, though unworthy of the name. Thou hast chosen us for thyself, remember and keep thy word with us and our fathers. The covenant of God is not to be renounced and forgotten by the penitent, but pleaded to secure a perpetual interest in God.
(2) God’s honour among the heathen is concerned. “Wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” If God does not fulfil his word and protect us, if we are utterly ruined by judgments, and insulted by idolaters, the enemies would rejoice and blasphemously inquire what God could do for his people? The penitent is humbled for his own sin; but when God is reproached, and his love called in question because he appears severe, this is an addition to his sorrow, a sword in his bones (Psalms 42:10). He therefore pleads that God would defend his own glory, and not permit men to be confirmed in their error and folly (Ezekiel 20:5; Ezekiel 36:21; Ezekiel 36:23). “Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? Let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed” (Psalms 79:10).
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Joel 2:15. Sanctify a fast. Care should be taken both by ministers and people in their stations, that every duty be not profanely gone about, nor external performances rested in; but that it may be done in a spiritual and sanctified manner, that there should be due preparation for it, and that the congregation come purified (as the word signifieth), according to the law, and fast in a sanctified manner [Hutcheson].
Joel 2:16. Gather the people.
1. In times of calamity fasting may be appropriate.
2. In times of national calamity the nation, all the people, should join.
3. Men of superior rank should use their influence and stimulate others to attend God’s house and regard God’s word. By penitence and prayer an entire community may be saved from distress.
Gather the children. Anniversary Sermon. I. Many gatherings for children. Exeter Hall meetings; the Great Exhibition; children in Peel Park; Manchester; annual sermons and festivities. II. Many purposes for which children are gathered.
1. School education.
2. Social enjoyment.
3. Christian worship.
4. Solemn fasting and humiliation, in the text. III. Many advantages result from gatherings of children.
1. It is the fulfilment of Scripture.
2. Necessary for children themselves.
3. Beneficial in many ways to parents.
Joel 2:17. Weeping priests and guilty people. The sins of the people and the sufferings consequent upon them should weigh upon the hearts of ministers. If God frowns upon a people, if error and evils abound in a community, are not the shepherds to blame? Of all members of a stricken Church, ministers have the greatest cause to mourn.
Reproach of Israel.
1. Departure from God.
2. Exposure to Divine judgment.
3. Enslaved by the heathen. Christians should maintain their credit and character, and especially deprecate reproach cast on the character and conduct of God.
Where is their God?—
1. The spirit of the question. A question often put—
1. In ignorance.
2. In atheism.
3. In ridicule. Carnal men ignorant of the character of God, the mysteries of his providence, and regardless of his people. II. The substance of the question.
1. This question reflects upon God. God’s presence, God’s providence, and God’s word.
2. This question reflects upon God’s people. They are considered worthless, forsaken, and despised. It is the most bitter of all taunts.
Spare thy people. I. The prayer. Spare, deliver from trouble, pardon sin and help in future. II. The plea.
1. Thy people, words of interest, submission and affection.
2. Thy people in danger, “that the heathen should not rule over them.” God alone has the sole right to the homage and service of his people. We may always plead the interest which God takes in our spiritual welfare, as the reason for averting judgments from the Church and the nation which our sins have merited.
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 2
Joel 2:15-17. In this assembly kings and priests lead the way; nobles and common people promptly join. The whole multitude bow like one man, and fall prostrate at the footstool of mercy. All acknowledge their guilt and are sensible of their danger. All repent and pray that God would spare his people. Though repentance is now put in the inward dispositions of the soul, yet on occasion of national humiliation, and peculiar religious solemnity, it may be suitable to testify by our deportment and dress, the seriousness and sadness of our minds. Splendour and gaiety of apparel, if ever becoming Christians, should be laid aside at such seasons. It is well when the government of a nation, in its spiritual and political authorities, takes the lead in the promotion of piety and regard to the doctrines and duties of religion. It is most touching and instructive to see all classes of the community lift up their hearts in prayer for mercy and deliverance.