“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. 27 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 (Joel 2:26-27).”
At times, I find significant parts of the Minor Prophets to be pretty depressing. Earlier in the book of Joel, the prophet speaks through the Holy Spirit concerning famine caused by locusts and other insects (Joel 1:4). Verses later, images of a virgin girded with sackcloth, languishing fig trees, and rotten seeds are given (Joel 1:8, 12, 17). These are all terrible events to consider, and surely said with great gravity. Perhaps one reason this imagery is important is because it helps highlight for us the great joy that can come later after periods of suffering.
As we see from Joel 2:12-17, the LORD truly wanted the people of Israel to turn toward him with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Who knew what would happen if the congregation of Israel was sanctified and the priests cried out to God again?
We find that the LORD would be jealous for his land and pity his people (Joel 2:18). Previously there was famine and desolation in the land, but then the children of Zion would enjoy the former and latter rains (Joel 2:23). They would be able to enjoy bountiful harvests, eating in plenty and being satisfied with the fruit of the ground. The people of Israel would eventually have the things they needed yet again, and praise the name of the LORD anew (Joel 2:26). They would see verifiable evidence that God dealt wondrously with them and that the people would never need to be ashamed.
If we are currently in a period of suffering, may we turn to God and hope for his wondrous dealings with us in the future.
Opening The Scriptures 