Joel 2:21-32
Summary for Joel 2:21-22: 2:21-22 a Don’t be afraid: God’s great deliverance would be full and complete.2:23 b autumn rains ... rains of spring: God would once again restore the regular pattern of rainfall, and the drought (1:12 c, 20 d) would be reversed.
2:25 e The Lord promised restitution for the terrible damage done by the locusts (see 1:4 f, 10 g, and corresponding study notes).
Summary for Joel 2:26-27: 2:26-27 h and you will praise the Lord your God: God’s promised restoration of their crops and food supply should lead the people of Judah and Jerusalem to praise and adoration, acknowledging that the Lord was in their midst and that he alone is God.
Summary for Joel 2:28-3:21: 2:28–3:21 i In the more distant future, God would restore his people’s spiritual lives, pour out his Spirit on all people who respond to him in faith, and render judgment on the peoples and nations that refuse to acknowledge his lordship.
Summary for Joel 2:28-32: 2:28-32 j The prophet looked beyond his time to the future day of the Lord, when God would pour out his Spirit in ways never before seen and would perform signs and wonders for all humanity to see. The apostle Peter quoted this passage as being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21 k).
Summary for Joel 2:28-29: 2:28-29 l I will pour out my Spirit upon all people: In Israel, the empowering gift of God’s Spirit had previously been given only to select individuals such as judges (Judg 3:10 m; 15:14 n), priests (2 Chr 24:20 o), kings (1 Sam 10:10 p), and prophets (Isa 61:1 q). A time was coming when the Spirit would be given to every one of God’s people, regardless of gender, age, or social position. In fulfillment of Moses’ wish that every Israelite might be a prophet (Num 11:29 r), all would prophesy and see visions. In Acts 2:1-47 s, Peter expanded this promise to include people from all over the known world who were gathered in Jerusalem, regardless of their ethnicity (Acts 2:39 t; see also Gal 3:28 u).
Summary for Joel 2:30-31: 2:30-31 v The future outpouring of God’s Spirit would be accompanied by signs and wonders. Blood and fire and ... smoke, together with the darkening of the sun and the moon, are indications of God’s coming in judgment (see 2:10 w; Mark 13:24 x; Rev 6:12 y).
2:32 z everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved: Calling on the name of God should not be a final act of desperation; it accompanies a lifelong commitment of worship, service, and fellowship with the Lord (see Gen 12:8 aa; Ps 105:1 ab; Isa 12:4 ac; Rom 10:13 ad; 12:1-2 ae).
• Those whom the Lord has called are his chosen remnant, the survivors of judgment who worship him (see 2 Kgs 19:31 af; Ezra 9:8-15 ag; Isa 10:20-22 ah).
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