Will ye render me a recompense?] Do you think by this to avenge yourselves upon the Almighty? to retaliate upon God! Proceed, and speedily will I return your recompense; I will retaliate.

John Gill's Bible Commentary

Joel 2:1-14 The priests were to alarm the people with the near approac of the Divine judgments. It is the work of ministers to warn of the fatal consequences of sin, and to reveal the wrath from heaven agains the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. The striking descriptio which follows, shows what would attend the devastations of locusts, but may also describe the effects from the ravaging of the land by the Chaldeans. If the alarm of temporal judgments is given to offendin nations, how much more should sinners be warned to seek deliveranc from the wrath to come! Our business therefore on earth must especiall be, to secure an interest in our Lord Jesus Christ; and we should see to be weaned from objects which will soon be torn from all who now make idols of them. There must be outward expressions of sorrow and shame fasting, weeping, and mourning; tears for trouble must be turned int tears for the sin that caused it. But rending the garments would be vain, except their hearts were rent by abasement and self-abhorrence by sorrow for their sins, and separation from them. There is n question but that if we truly repent of our sins, God will forgiv them; but whether he will remove affliction is not promised, yet the probability of it should encourage us to repent.

Joel 2:15-27 The priests and rulers are to appoint a solemn fast. The sinner's supplication is, Spare us, good Lord. God is ready to succou his people; and he waits to be gracious. They prayed that God woul spare them, and he answered them. His promises are real answers to the prayers of faith; with him saying and doing are not two things. Some understand these promises figuratively, as pointing to gospel grace and as fulfilled in the abundant comforts treasured up for believers in the covenant of grace.

Joel 2:28-32 The promise began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and it was continued in the converting grace and miraculous gifts conferred on both Jews an Gentiles. The judgments of God upon a sinful world, only go before the judgment of the world in the last day. Calling on God suppose knowledge of him, faith in him, desire toward him, dependence on him and, as evidence of the sincerity of all this, conscientious obedienc to him. Those only shall be delivered in the great day, who are no effectually called from sin to God, from self to Christ, from thing below to things above __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew