B. Thanksgiving Day. Series

Joel 2:21-27, Psalm 126:1-6, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Matthew 6:25-33

A). RESTORATION.

Joel 2:21-27.

The locusts, and their like, had eaten away many years of Israel’s history (cf. Joel 1:4), with devastating results. Not only was the land wasted for the farmers and winemakers, but also the offerings of the LORD were cut off (cf. Joel 1:9-12). Joy was ‘withered away from the sons of men’ (cf. Joel 1:12)!

Joel’s reaction to all this was to speak into the ear of government and church leadership, calling for a national fast and a public day of prayer and humiliation before the LORD (cf. Joel 1:14; Joel 2:15). The LORD Himself called for nothing less than national repentance, rending of hearts, fasting, weeping and mourning (cf. Joel 2:12-14). The ministers of the LORD were enjoined to join Joel in this initiative by weeping and saying, ‘Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: why should they say among the people, Where is their God?’ (cf. Joel 2:17).

When they thus humbled themselves and fasted and wept and mourned and cried to the LORD, ‘then would the LORD be jealous for His land and pity His people’ (cf. Joel 2:18). The LORD would ‘no more make you a reproach among the heathen’ (cf. Joel 2:19). The locust has done his ‘great things’ (end of Joel 2:20); now the LORD would do His ‘great things’ (JOEL 2:21).

Israel is called to rejoice in the LORD their God (JOEL 2:23a). We pray for seasonable weather, and that is just what the children of Zion had restored to them: “the former rain moderately, the rain, the former rain and the latter rain” (JOEL 2:23b). In the words of Elijah, ‘I hear the sound of an abundance of rain’ (cf. 1 Kings 18:41).

Now the pastures of the wilderness would spring, and the trees and the vines would be fruitful (JOEL 2:22). The floors would be full of wheat, and the vats overflowing with wine and oil (JOEL 2:24). The LORD would restore the years that the locust had eaten: “my great army which I sent among you” (JOEL 2:25).

Now the people of the LORD were vindicated, along with His great name (JOEL 2:26). With the twice repeated “My people shall never be ashamed” (JOEL 2:26-27), even the groaning of creation (cf. Romans 8:22) was abated.

In Christ, God restores to us what would have been had we not allowed sin an entrance. Ultimately the full restoration lies ahead, even for us, but meantime we have the ‘guarantee of our inheritance’ (cf. Ephesians 1:14). The Holy Spirit, and all the rich blessings which come with His presence in our lives.

B). A HARVEST OF JOY.

Psalm 126:1-6.

The common heading within this group of fifteen Psalms (Psalms 120-134) is “A Song of degrees” - a reference, some believe, to the miracle of the sun going back by ten degrees as a pledge to King Hezekiah that the LORD would extend his life by fifteen years (Isaiah 38:4-8). Certainly, Hezekiah appears to have been involved in the compilation of the Book of Psalms (2 Chronicles 29:30). Or perhaps these are songs for the pilgrimage up to Jerusalem for the solemn feasts (Exodus 23:14-17), or even “songs of ascent” up the steps towards the Temple.

Despite some ambiguity concerning the right interpretation of the Hebrew tenses, Psalm 126 appears to first look back to past mercies (Psalm 126:1-3), pause to pray over a present situation (Psalm 126:4), then looks forward with keen anticipation of future blessings (Psalm 126:5-6). This seems to be the most natural reading of the text. It is certainly a sound method of prayer to build a case for our petitions based in the past mercies of God, rather than diving in headfirst with our shopping list of requests.

The occasion of the Psalm’s composition, and the events referred to throughout are purposely vague. Historically, the turning of the captivity of Zion (Psalm 126:1) might reach all the way back to the release of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. In Hezekiah’s day this concept could be applied to the close call which Zion herself (Jerusalem) had when the Assyrians threatened her borders (Isaiah 37:33-36).

Psalm 126 would later also apply to the Jews returning to Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon. There were returns under a Davidic prince named Zerubbabel, as well as under Ezra and under Nehemiah. The end of their captivity was not achieved overnight: there were tussles with enemies within the holy land, giving rise to the need for more prayers for deliverance at each phase.

This Psalm is also a song for the church, and for God’s people in every generation. The salvation which is ours in Christ Jesus is the greatest deliverance of all. Beyond that, there have been divine interventions in our lives from time to time, concerning health, or finances, or answers to prayer on behalf of our families, communities, churches and friends.