So Joel sees two things coming as the day of the Lord approaches: one is a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit (2:28, 29), and the other is a terrible time of divine judgment. Let all the people of the land shake in fear, for the day of the Lord is coming. Think of a great hurricane out at sea that is approaching the coastlands. What suddenly happened in World War II serves as a warning of how quickly something of such magnitude can unfold. He manifests His zeal in the natural realm, calling nations to account for rebellion against Him, and He visits His people with unusual Holy Spirit power and blessing. God wanted to give Israel time to repent before the next invasion came. (J)16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation;Assemble the elderly; gather the children, even infants nursing at the breast;Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride[e] her bridal tent.17 Between the porch and the altar[f] let the priests weep, let the ministers of the Lord weep and say:“Spare your people, Lord! We gain insight into the blessing and judgment that Gentile believers and unbelievers will experience. It may be the 20-year-olds or the 2-year-olds who see it. The Holocaust also proves that anti-Semitism can suddenly escalate and spread across nations. We Study the Lesser Days of the Lord to Understand the Great Day. The entire population was threatened. (C)4 Their appearance is that of horses; like war horses they run.5 Like the rumble of chariots they hurtle across mountaintops;Like the crackling of fiery flames devouring stubble;Like a massive army in battle formation. 25 “So I will restore to you the years (AR)that the swarming [k]locust has eaten,The crawling locust,The consuming locust,And the chewing locust,My great army which I sent among you.26 You shall (AS)eat in plenty and be satisfied,And praise the name of the Lord your God,Who has dealt wondrously with you;And My people shall never be put to (AT)shame.27 Then you shall know that I am (AU)in the midst of Israel:(AV)I am the Lord your GodAnd there is no other.My people shall never be put to shame. 26 (BS)“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.And my people (BT)shall never again be put to shame.27 (BU)You shall know that I am (BV)in the midst of Israel, and that (BW)I am the Lord your God (BX)and there is none else.And my people (BY)shall never again be put to shame. (CR)30 I will show wonders in the heavens(CS) and on the earth,(CT) blood and fire and billows of smoke.31 The sun will be turned to darkness(CU) and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Who can survive it? In Hebrew texts 2:28-32 is numbered 3:1-5. The analogy of a natural day is helpful as it begins in the night, followed by the midnight hours of darkness before the morning light finally dawns. 1:12; Dan. 24:29; Mark 13:24, 25; Luke 21:11, 25, 26; Acts 2:19, Is. (CL), 28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit(CM) on all people. 2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished.
