Homilist Joel 2:18-20 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.… I. That the MATERIAL CONDITION OF A PEOPLE DEPENDS UPON THE DIVINE OPERATIONS. 1. The withdrawal of calamities. "I will remove far off from you the northern army," etc. Men may and ought to employ means; but futile for ever will be all human efforts without the co-operation of Almighty power. This fact should teach us ever to look to Him and Him only for deliverance from evil at all times, both material and moral. 2. The bestowment of blessings. "The Lord will answer and say unto His people, Behold, I will send you corn," etc. The productions of the earth are dependent every moment upon Almighty power. 2. That the Divine operations ARE INFLUENCED BY THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. The priests and the ministers of the Lord wept between the altar, and said, "Spare Thy people, O Lord," etc. "The porch before the temple was a hundred and twenty cubits high, twenty broad from north to south, and ten from east to west. The altar was that of burnt-offering in the court of the priests. Here, with their backs toward the altar, on which they had nothing to offer, and their faces directed towards the residence of the Shekina, they were to weep and make supplication on behalf of the people." That the Divine conduct towards us depends upon our conduct towards heaven, is inexplicable to us although clearly taught in the Word of God. Indeed consciousness assures us that He is to us what we are to Him. It is absurd to suppose that God will alter the laws of nature because of human prayers and human conduct, says the sceptic scientist. But what laws of nature are more manifest, more universal, settled, and unalterable than the tendency of human souls to personal and intercessory prayer? Every aspiration is a prayer. Scripture abounds with examples of God apparently altering His conduct on account of man's supplication. III. THAT THE RIGHT MORAL CONDUCT OF A PEOPLE WILL ENSURE THEM DIVINE BENEDICTION. In these verses there is a beautiful gradation. First the destroyed land is addressed; then the irrational animals; then the inhabitants. All are called to cast off their fears and rejoice in the happy change which God would effect. It is too clear for either argument or illustration, that if you change the moral character of any country from ignorance to intelligence, from indolence to industry, from intemperance to self-discipline, the whole material region in which you live may abound with plentifulness and beauty. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.WEB: Then Yahweh was jealous for his land, And had pity on his people. |
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