Sunday 12th January 2020 Devotion
Scripture:- Joel 2:1-21
Topic:- Motto For The Year 2020 [2]
Text:- Joel 2:21
D. Some Commentarys For More Understanding On The Motto:
1. Ellicott’s Commentary For English Readers: Fear not, O land. The sentence of the reversal of judgment has gone forth, and all nature, animate and inanimate, rational and irrational, which had been included in the curse is summoned to rejoice in the blessing vouchsafed by the Lord.
2. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: The priests and rulers are to appoint a solemn fast. The sinner’s supplication is, Spare us, good Lord. God is ready to succour his people; and he waits to be gracious. They prayed that God would spare them, and He answered them. His promises are real answers to the prayers of faith.
3. Barnes’ Notes On The Bible:
Fear not, O land – Before, they were bidden to tremble Joel 2:1, now they are bidden, “fear not;” before, “to turn in weeping, fasting and mourning;” now, “to bound for joy and rejoice;” before, “the land mourned;” now, “the land is bidden to rejoice.” The enemy had “done great things;” now the cause of joy is that God had “done great things.
4. Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: Fear not, O land,…. O land of Israel, as the Targum, and the inhabitants of it; neither of the locusts, who had so terrified them, and had done so much mischief, and threatened more; nor of their enemies, the Assyrians or Chaldeans, and their powerful armies, or any other; but, on the contrary,
be glad, and rejoice; at the removal of the locusts, and at the destruction of their enemies
5. Cambridge Bible For Schools And Colleges: O land] more exactly, O ground; i.e. the soil which until now has been “mourning” (Joel 1:10) under the sore visitation. For Jehovah hath done great things] exactly the same phrase as in Joel 2:20, the past tense, however, being here the “prophetic past”, and describing in reality what Jehovah will do. For the application of the phrase to Jehovah, See Psalm 126:2-3; Amos 5:2.
6. Pulpit Commentary: Verse 21. – Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. The land had suffered severely from the drought connected with the locusts; but is now summoned to joy and gladness. The prophet assigns for this an appropriate reason: the locusts had done great things in damaging it; Jehovah now does great things in their destruction. When the earth clothes itself with verdure, and brings forth its fruits and flowers and various products, it is said, by a bold but beautiful personification, to rejoice and even exult.
E. Some Versions On The Motto:
1. World English Bible – Land, don’t be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh has done great things. Joel 2:21.
2. Webster Bible Translation – Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Joel 2:21.
3. English Revised Version – Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for the LORD hath done great things. Joel 2:21.
4. Young’s Literal Translation – Do not fear, O land! joy and rejoice, For Jehovah hath exerted Himself to work. Joel 2:21.
5. Douay-Rheims Bible – Fear not, O land, be glad, and rejoice: for the Lord hath done great things. Joel 2:21.
6. Darby Bible Translation – Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for Jehovah doeth great things. Joel 2:21.
7. King James Bible – Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Joel 2:21.
F. Understanding The Motto Thoroughly, Joel 2:21:
1. “Fear not.” God is saying that year 2020 will be full of evils, sorrows and problem, but He is asurerring us not to fear. For example, the fear was conquered by the 3 Hebrews in the book of Daniel 3. See 2 Timothy 1:7.
2. “For The Lord.” This Lord is our Lord God, who owns us, and He is ready to see us through the year of 2020. For example like the children of Israel through Moses at the red sea in Exodus 14. See also Psalm 100.
3. “Will do great things for us.” Great things from God is always miraculous. For example like the children of Judah during the time of king Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. See also Luke 1:37.
Prayer Point:- Oh Lord God, as You declared year 2020 a year of doing new things, settled me by doing new things in my life as from now by fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Happy Lord’s Day!
