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"A nation has come up against My land"

Text: Joel 1:6

WARNING AGAINST A HOSTILE NATION

The plague of locusts was a warning of worse things that could come. Israel was in grave danger of being attacked by hostile nations.

“For a nation has come up against My land,
Strong, and without number;
His teeth are the teeth of a lion,
And he has the fangs of a fierce lion.
He has laid waste My vine,
And ruined My fig tree;
He has stripped it bare and thrown it away,
Its branches are made white.”
Joel 1:6-7

1. “A nation has come up”

a) This could be a reference to the Assyrians.

b) It is equally applicable to the Babylonians.

2. Hostile armies

a) Strong and without number indeed.

b) Teeth compared to that of a fierce lion.

3. The LORD’s personal perspective

a) The land of Israel described as belonging to the LORD.

b) Note the use of the personal pronouns:

i) My land

ii) My vine

iii) My fig tree

4. Ownership of the land

a) The land of Israel had always belonged to the Lord.

b) It never belonged to Israel and its people even though it was “given” to them.

c) This understanding was reflected in the Book of Jeremiah.

i) And when you entered, you defiled My land. Jeremiah 2:7c

ii) And made My heritage an abomination. Jeremiah 2:7d

5. Destruction caused

a) By the plague of locusts.

b) By the hostile enemy nation.

c) The trees were stripped bare; the branches were torn violently till the white is seen.