Joel 2:27 And you shall know that I am in the middle of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else… After the desolation caused by the locusts is to come a time of great fruitfulness. In the words, "My people shall never be ashamed," we have a great principle of God's government announced, and the promise is emphatically repeated. I. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROMISE. It covers all history, and the whole individual life, and reaches on "within the veil." The promise involves — 1. An implied assertion of surrounding troubles and conflict. Much which is calculated to put men to shame, and to cause doubt and sorrow; e.g., loathsome diseases, fearful crimes, error perverting and hindering truth, drunkenness, ignorance, immorality at our doors and in our streets. Where sin is, there must be shame. 2. An express encouragement to stedfast faith. God "undertakes for" His people. 3. A sure prediction of final triumph. The promise has progressive fulfilment. Shame and fear are again and again beaten back until the last victory comes, and shame and sin are left behind for ever. II. THE CHARACTER OF THOSE TO WHOM THE PROMISE IS MADE. God's people are put in antithesis with the heathen, the ungodly, the unbelieving. They are those who have turned to Him in true penitence, have experienced His pardoning love, and now trust in Him. They are "led by the Spirit." Can we take the comfort of this promise? On one side of man's destinies is certainty of shame; on the other, assurance of glory. Troubles shall issue in joy; trials shall conduct to triumph. (W. Saumarez Smith, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. |
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