To rend the garment is easy, but a broken and contrite heart can be imparted only by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The love of God should bring us to repentance. He takes no pleasure in our miseries and if men repent and turn from their sin they find an immediate and loving welcome to the Father’s heart and home. Joel had called for the trumpet to announce war; he now directs the trumpet blast to summon the people, from the highest to the lowest, to plead for help. Prayer and true repentance and faith bring an immediate an-

swer. As the husband yearns over his erring but repentant wife, and is indignant with those who have maltreated her, so will Jehovah remove from us, when we turn to him, those who have cruelly oppressed us.

The great things Jehovah did against Egypt and Babylon are an earnest of what he will do again. The earth, v. 21; the lower animals, v. 22; and, above all, the children of Zion, literal and spiritual, v. 23, have good reason to rejoice in what awaits them. God promises not only to forgive sin, but to make us happy and well provided as if the locust and cankerworm had never settled upon our lives.

Joel 2:28—3:21. Having stated the outward blessings that would follow repentance, Joel unveils the extraordinary spiritual blessings that were in store. The outpouring of the Spirit, described in Acts Qe Gres. does not exhaust these glorious words. This blessing is for all whom the Lord our God shall call to himself, and as one to whom his call has come, you have a perfect right to claim your share in Pentecost. The promise is to all that are “afar off” in space and time. The very slaves, the most degraded and despised of men, become free when they yield themselves to Jesus and have an equal right to the same Spirit.

The third chapter refers to the last desperate effort made by the powers of the world against Christ and his people. This will be the closing scene of man’s apostasy. But the Lord will vindicate and deliver his oppressed from the hand of their oppressors; and the same judgment will bring them blessing. Having cleansed his people from their stains, Messiah will tabernacle among them, Rev. 21: 3.

From Painting by Gustay WERTHEIMER, Modern Austrian Artist.

(b) Into what three parts is the book divided?

(c) In what three ways is God’s mercy manifested? (d) What will be Judah’s place among the nations?

(b) What is the general subject of his prophecy?

(c) What important reference to this prophecy is found in the New Testament?

(Each question applies to the paragraph of corresponding number in the Comments.)