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God Restores Fertility to the Land
Joel 2.21-27
Good News Translation (GNT)
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23 "Be glad, people of Zion,
rejoice at what the Lord your God has done
for you.
He has given you the right amount of
autumn rain; [a]
he has poured down the winter rain for you
and the spring rain as before.
24 The threshing places will be full of grain;
the pits beside the presses will overflow with
wine and olive oil.
25 I will give you back what you lost
in the years when swarms of locusts ate
your crops.
It was I who sent this army against you.
26 Now you will have plenty to eat, and be
satisfied.
You will praise the Lord your God,
who has done wonderful things for you.
My people will never be despised again.
27 Then, Israel, you will know that I am among
you
and that I, the Lord, am your God
and there is no other.
My people will never be despised again.
The Day of the Lord
28 "Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on
everyone:
your sons and daughters will proclaim my
message;
your old people will have dreams,
and your young people will see visions.
29 At that time I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants, both men and women.
30 "I will give warnings of that day
in the sky and on the earth;
there will be bloodshed, fire, and clouds of
smoke.
31 The sun will be darkened,
and the moon will turn red as blood
before the great and terrible day of the Lord
comes.
32 But all who ask the Lord for help will be saved.
As the Lord has said,
'Some in Jerusalem will escape;
those whom I choose will survive.'"
Footnotes
Joel 2:23 right amount of autumn rain; or autumn rain because he is just.
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Taken from 'word-on-the-web' supplied by the
Scripture Union
God Restores Fertility to the
Land
Joel 2.23-32
Today's passage promises a great restoration.
'I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten'.
Joel paints a picture of the greening of the wilderness and the returning
of fruitfulness for fields and crops.
The rains fall and the rivers run full. This is often how it is with God:
light after darkness, glory after gloom, mercy after judgement,
life after death.
The weight of the passage rests firmly on the promise of a restoration
of the people and city of God.
Joel is not only interested in the flourishing of people.
Throughout the book, he shows great tenderness towards the
created world.
According to Genesis 2, the first human (Adam) was made from the dust
of the ground (adamah).
Here, the prophet addresses that same ground.
'Do not be afraid, land [adamah] of Judah; be glad and rejoice'
Joel is fully aware that all things are connected.
Humans depend on the planet and its web of interconnected relationships.
The created world is important because it nurtures and sustains
human life and well-being, but it is valuable too because of its
intrinsic worth.
The earth with its soil, plants and animals is part of the
garden planet God has made.
If it suffers under the judgement of God, it also receives blessing
in the renewal of God.
God cares about the greening of the wilderness,
the fruitfulness of trees and the well-being of animals and plants.
It is a pity that, too often, we do not.
Other versions are available here
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