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"Fear not, O land"

Text: Joel 2:21

THE FEAR OF WAR

The fear of war was invasive and deep. Israel feared the worst. Fear could be most crippling!

“Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the LORD has done marvellous things!
Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;
For the open pastures are springing up,
And the tree bears its fruit;
The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.”
Joel 2:21-22

1. “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice”

a) Fear need not persist in the land.

b) Gladness of heart may be found.

c) There is every reason to rejoice.

2. “For the LORD has done marvellous things”

a) This is certainly true if only Israel would reflect on its past history.

b) The LORD would continue to do marvellous things if only Israel would be faithful.

3. “Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field”

a) Once again, the call to not fear was uttered.

b) This time round, the words were spoken to “the beasts of the field”.

i) They would understand instinctively.

ii) They need not fear for God would give them calmness somehow.

4. What God would do:

a) “The open pastures are springing up”

i) God would provide the pasture land.

ii) The cattle and the flocks need not fear there would be no food.

b) “And the tree bears its fruit”

i) The focus here changes to the people in Israel.

ii) This is a word to them; their fig trees would bear fruit!

iii) Can the people trust what God has promised?

c) “The fig tree and the vine yield their strength”

i) These words would be of relevance to the people in Israel (and not the animals).

ii) God promised that both the fig tree and the vine would yield strongly.