Joel 2:26 And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that has dealt wondrously with you… What use should be made of these returns of God's mercy to them? 1. God shall have all the glory thereof. What is the matter of their rejoicing shall be matter of their thanksgiving. The plenty of our creature comforts is a mercy indeed to us, when by them our hearts are enlarged in love and thankfulness to God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy, though we serve Him but poorly. 2. They shall have the credit, and comfort, and spiritual benefit thereof. When God gives them plenty again, and gives them to be satisfied with it — (1) Their reputation shall be retrieved. (2) Their joy shall be revived. (3) Their faith in God shall be confirmed and increased.We should labour to grow in our acquaintance with God by all providences, both merciful and afflictive. 3. Even the inferior creatures shall share therein, and be made easy thereby. They had suffered for the sin of man, and for God's quarrel with him, and now they shall fare the better for man's repentance and God's reconciliation to him. This may lead us to think of the restitution of all things, when the creature, that is now made subject to vanity and groans under it, shall be brought, though not into the glorious joy, yet into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21). ( Matthew Henry.) Parallel Verses KJV: And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. |
    |