Joel 2:26 And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that has dealt wondrously with you… Of God the prophet says, "He shall deal wonderfully with you." I. THE NATURE AND GROUND OF THAT CONFIDENCE UNDER WHICH BELIEVERS "SHALL NEVER BE ASHAMED." They that fear the Lord rest upon the strong arm of Omnipotence; therefore they are not afraid. In the hour of their temptation the precepts of God are the source of their spiritual vigour. They build on a foundation which shall never shake under them, therefore they tremble not in the day of adversity. The sure and certain promises of God, given through Christ by the Gospel, afford to the faithful in Christ a never-failing source of courage and confidence in the day of trial. "The righteous is bold as a lion" in the face of danger; for his anchor of hope is thrown out, and holds fast to the eternal rock of his salvation. Time cannot shake the courage of the faithful; for this courage has it's graft in a Divine stock, which is eternal. II. THE EFFECT OF THIS GODLY BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENCE. Shame and confusion of face bring distress and disquietude. There cannot be true peace within, where there is habitual feeling of shame, and sense of dread, doubt, and misgiving. The courage of the people of God is a state of peace within, solidly based, strongly secured beneath the adamantine bars of Divine grace, redeeming love, the Gospel's gladdening voice and elevating spirit. A state of well-tried and well-founded courage is a state of well-assured and well supported peace. And the tranquillity depends not upon outward things for its permanency, but rests upon the watchful guardianship and unchangeable love of the Shepherd and Bishop of souls. See the great excellency of the benefit of this gift of godly courage. Is it not desirable to be enabled to walk through life, securely armed amid its storms, in a track undeviating, fixed, and stedfast, preserving the even tenor of a godly course, without weariness and with out wavering? This is the sound consistency of character which we should all aim after. What shall give you confidence in the day of adversity, but the sure provision of Divine grace laid up in the soul? What shall give you bold ness in the day of Christ's appearing, but the love you have had for Christ, the concern you have shown for the 'tone thing needful," and the diligence you have used in "working out your salvation with fear and trembling "? (W. Stone, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. |
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