As Joel the
prophet continued to share how the LORD would bless Judah when they
humbled themselves before Him, he wrote of how they, the “beasts
of the field”, and the “children of Zion” had no
need to be afraid. He would provide the “former and latter
rain” which would supply “bumper” crops and fill their
“threshing-floors” with “wheat” and their “vats”
with “wine and oil”. In chapter two and verse twenty-five
of his prophecy, Joel wrote how the LORD would “restore”
to the people “the years” that were stolen from Judah
where we read:
And I will
restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm,
and the
caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among
you.
The
verse begins, “And I will restore to you the years that the
locust has eaten, the cankerworm,...” Joel began with the
phrase, “And I will restore” which literally means “brings
peace” and figuratively means “to complete, be finished, ended or
be sound” “to you the years” which means “or division
and measure of time” “that the locust” which refers to
“the full-grown consuming locust” “the cankerworm” or
“the licking locust”. In the reverse order of Joel chapter one
and verse four, Joel the prophet explained the restoration which
would occur throughout Judah.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and the caterpillar, and the
palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” Joel
continued, “and the caterpillar” or “swarming locust”,
“and the palmerworm” which means “the gnawing locust” “my
great army” or “large and important strength, might,
efficiency, wealth and ability” “which I sent among you”
which refers to “stretching out, extending, directing and letting
loose” the invading nation that came against the people of Judah.
Joel continued to share how the LORD would “restore” what
the “invading army” took from Judah from the greatest of invaders
to the smallest perpetrators.
When
we meditate upon Joel's words, we admire the ability and willingness
of the LORD to bring back what the enemy has taken away. We may feel
like “everything” has been stolen from us, and when this occurs,
let us remember that our relationship with God Almighty through Jesus
Christ His Son ensures us that sooner or later He will “restore”
what the enemies have stolen from the greatest to the least of
them.
Next
time Joel shares how the people shall “shall eat in
plenty, and be satisfied”, 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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