Chapter II.
"I. Verse 11: "The day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
and who can abide it? " a. Four kinds of darkness are mentioned for the purpose of revealing how awful that day is: It is a day of "darkness," of "gloominess," of "clouds," of "thick darkness." Verse 2.
It is darker than
--the darkness of Egypt,
--or the darkness at the cross of Christ when He was crucified,
--or the darkness of May 19, 1780.
b. The "day of the Lord " is unprecedented. "There hath not been ever the like." Verse 2.
God's people were to make stand out before the world the seriousness of "that day."
2. Verse 15: "Blow the trumpet in Zion, . . . call a solemn assembly."
a. "A solemn assembly "— a "day of restraint," as in the margin of Joel 1: 14. God's people, then, would be learning restraint, while the world is practicing indulgence.
b. "Sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play,"— such is the verdict against those who made the golden calf against the last generation. Ex. 32: 5, 6; 1 Cor. 10: 7, 11.
3. Verse 12: "Therefore . . . turn ye even to Me . . . with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."
a. Fasting was practiced on the day of atonement. Lev. 23: 27. We are now in the antitypical day of atonement.
4. Verses 13 and 14: "Rend your heart, and not your garments." This is true repentance. "Leave a blessing behind Him; " or, restore to communion with Him.
5. Verses 15-17:
a. "Call a solemn assembly." Verse 15. Terrible things are at hand. Ordinary round of worship will not suffice.
Call a special convention; examine the state of the church.
b. "Assemble the elders." Verse 16. Hold a church officers' meeting which will accomplish something.
"Sanctify the congregation." Stay by until a thorough reformation is wrought.
"I. Verse 11: "The day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
It is darker than
--the darkness of Egypt,
--or the darkness at the cross of Christ when He was crucified,
--or the darkness of May 19, 1780.
b. The "day of the Lord " is unprecedented. "There hath not been ever the like." Verse 2.
God's people were to make stand out before the world the seriousness of "that day."
2. Verse 15: "Blow the trumpet in Zion, . . . call a solemn assembly."
a. "A solemn assembly "— a "day of restraint," as in the margin of Joel 1: 14. God's people, then, would be learning restraint, while the world is practicing indulgence.
b. "Sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play,"— such is the verdict against those who made the golden calf against the last generation. Ex. 32: 5, 6; 1 Cor. 10: 7, 11.
3. Verse 12: "Therefore . . . turn ye even to Me . . . with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."
a. Fasting was practiced on the day of atonement. Lev. 23: 27. We are now in the antitypical day of atonement.
4. Verses 13 and 14: "Rend your heart, and not your garments." This is true repentance. "Leave a blessing behind Him; " or, restore to communion with Him.
5. Verses 15-17:
a. "Call a solemn assembly." Verse 15. Terrible things are at hand. Ordinary round of worship will not suffice.
Call a special convention; examine the state of the church.
b. "Assemble the elders." Verse 16. Hold a church officers' meeting which will accomplish something.
"Sanctify the congregation." Stay by until a thorough reformation is wrought.
c. "Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar." Verse 17. Call a workers' meeting! Poisonous theories, like a tainted atmosphere, are reaching the young. Cry to God, "Give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them..."
B.G.Wilkinson/1928