As Joel
continued to share how the LORD would bless the humbled people of
Judah, he told them not only would “the land” not have to
be afraid, but also “the beasts of the field” would have
no need to fear either. The “pastures of the wilderness”
would “spring” and the “tree” and “vine”
would “bear” and “yield” their “strength”.
In chapter two and verse twenty-three of his prophecy, Joel shared
concerning “the former and latter rain” where we read:
Be
glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God:
for he has given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to
come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in
the first month.
The
verse begins, “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice
in the LORD your God:” Joel begins with the words, “Be
glad then” which means “rejoice and exult”, “you
children” or “son or grandson” “of Zion” which
means “parched place” and refers to “Jerusalem especially in
the prophetic books”, “and rejoice” which means “be
gladdened, merry and gleesome” “in the LORD” which
refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the
proper name for the one true God” “your God” or “the
divine ruler and judge, the one true God”. Because the LORD
promised to bless the “people, land, beasts, trees and vines” the
“sons and grandsons” of “Jerusalem” were to “be glad”
and “rejoice” in Him.
The
verse continues, “for he has given you the former rain
moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain,...”
Joel added, “for he
has given” or “put, set,
delivered, bestowed, granted, permitted, ascribed, employed, devoted,
consecrated, dedicated and entrusted” “the former rain”
or “the early rain” which refers to “the autumnal rain
from the middle of October to the middle of December”
“moderately” which
means “in due measure, just, righteous, truthful, justified and
ethically right”, “and he will cause to come down”
which means “descend, march down or sink down” “for
you” which refers to “the
people of Judah and Jerusalem” “the rain”
which means “violent rain and heavy shower”. The people of Judah
can “be glad and rejoice”
because the LORD will provide the “autumn” rain that prepares the
growth of the “vines and trees” of
the land.
Finally the verse says, “...
the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.”
Joel ended the verse with “the
former rain” which refers to “the
autumnal rain from the middle of October to the middle of December”,
“and the latter rain”
which means “the spring rain which matures the crops of Palestine”
“in the first month”
or “primary, chief, beginning and of old time”. In addition to
the “autumn” rain, the LORD will also provide the “spring”
rain for the “mature” plants to be fully watered.
When
we think through these words of Joel, we not only see the physical
benefits to the visitation of the LORD upon the people of Judah, but
also the spiritual ones. When the LORD brings physical blessings,
they are indicators of the spiritual alignment the people have with
Him. We too may align with God Almighty as we come to Him through a
relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. Let all who read these words
come to the saving knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ, and may the
blessings of the LORD be poured out upon all who do.
Next
time Joel tells what will happen with the “floors”
and “fats”, so
read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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