Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Unto his beloved country Joel is not only the messenger of its misery, but the herald of its prosperity. I. THE PROMISE OF DOING GREAT THINGS AS AN ANTIDOTE TO FEAR. The fear implied is desponding and unreasonable fear. 1. The causes and occasions of such fear are, — the enterprises of the gates of hell, the tyranny of the man of sin, the wrath of the kings of the earth, the bulwarks of superstition, the efficacy of delusion, the battering-rams of infidelity, and the fierce contentions for: dominion of empire with empire, and kingdom with kingdom. 2. Exemplify the strength and sufficiency of the antidote to this fear, in the promise of doing great things. Apply to the above several occasions and causes of the fear. 3. Enforce the caveat entered against this fear with the promise. In order that the strength and sufficiency of the antidote may be felt in experience, read the record of the great things which the Lord hath done: believe the promises of the great things which He will do; assure yourselves that before the Church be swallowed up by the world, the great things which He hath done shall be done over again; and observe that the caveat against desponding fear is entered, and its antidote prescribed and recommended, under the authority of the Lord who is both the doer and the promiser. II. THE PROMISE OF DOING GREAT THINGS, WHICH IS THE GROUND OF THE ADMONITION, IS AN EXCITATION TO EXPRESS THE JOY FOR WHICH THE ADMONITION IS GIVEN. Mention some great things which the Lord will do. Protect the reformed faith, furnish a ministry to preach it, raise out of every generation professors to hold it, reconcile the remnant of the seed of Abraham, gather in the fulness of the Gentiles, fill the earth with His glory, crush the insurrection of the last days, rend the heavens and come down, raise and judge the dead, dissolve the frame of the world, present the whole Church faultless in the presence of His glory, and reign over it for ever. Consider the nature of the joy for which the admonition is given, and unto which the promise of doing these great things is an excitement. The Father of glory is the fountain of it; the Saviour of the world is the medium of it; the Spirit of holiness is the author of it; the Scriptures of truth are the means of it; the city of God is the cistern in which it collects; the congregations of the citizens are the openings at which it breaks forth; and their lives the plains over which it flows. Then let us provoke ourselves to rejoice in His goodness and truth and power. In our island the Lord hath done great things, is doing great things, and according to our hope will do great things. III. EXCITATION TO REJOICE NEEDS TO BE ACCOMPANIED WITH INSTRUCTION CONCERNING THE EXPRESSION OF OUR JOY. We shall set before your faith some expressions of joy which correspond to the admonition, and by which it ought to be honoured in the city of God. Particularly, by observing the works of the Lord in the administrations of providence; adoring His glory breaking forth in these works; honouring His name appearing in them with the obedience of faith; trusting in His promises; praying for the performance of the promises which remain yet to be fulfilled; and waiting for the performance of these promises. Then take care to express your joy in each of these forms distinctly. (A. Shanks.) Parallel Verses KJV: Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.WEB: Land, don't be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh has done great things. |
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