Joel 2:18-27
I Will Repay You
18Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people.
19And the LORD answered His people: “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and by them you will be satisfied. I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.
20The northern army I will drive away from you, banishing it to a barren and desolate land, its front ranks into the Eastern Sea, and its rear guard into the Western Sea. And its stench will rise; its foul odor will ascend. For He has done great things.
21Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things.
22Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine yield their best.
23Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
24The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.
26You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you. My people will never again be put to shame.
27Then you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.
Berean Standard Bible
The LORD becomes jealous for His land and spares His people. The people who were called to lament are now given an answer: grain, new wine, and oil will be sent, and the reproach of the nations will not be their final identity.
And the LORD answered His people: “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and by them you will be satisfied. I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.
God also promises to drive away the northern army. The text uses vivid details about where its front and rear guards will go and says that its foul odor will rise. The army that brought devastation will not remain in control.
The land, animals, and children of Zion are all told not to fear. Pastures turn green, trees bear fruit, rains return, threshing floors fill with grain, and vats overflow with wine and oil. Restoration reaches the fields and the people who depend on them.
After the devastation, Joel gives the people a promise they would have needed to hear.
I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.
The promise does not mean every lost year can be restored by a simple calculation. Joel speaks God's promise to this people after this devastation. The point is that God can give back a future that the people had assumed was gone.
The result is satisfied people who praise the LORD and know that He is present in Israel. Shame is not the final word. Presence is.
A household can receive this hope without pretending that restoration erases history. Some losses leave marks. God can still provide enough for praise, restore dignity, and teach us to recognize His presence in what grows again.
How We Know
Isaiah 35:1-2 describes the wilderness and dry land rejoicing and blossoming when God's glory is revealed. Amos 9:13-15 promises restored planting, harvest, vineyards, and secure dwelling. Joel's returning rain, full harvest, and repayment for locust years belong to that wider biblical hope of restoration.
Questions
1 What does the LORD promise to send?
AnswerHe promises grain, new wine, and oil, and says His people will be satisfied.
2 What will happen to the northern army?
AnswerThe LORD will drive it away to a barren and desolate land, and its foul odor will rise.
3 What changes in the land?
AnswerPastures turn green, trees bear fruit, rains return, threshing floors fill, and vats overflow.
4 What does God promise about the locust years?
AnswerHe promises to repay the years eaten by the locusts and to remove the shame of His people.
What This Means for Us
Restoration is not denial of the years that were eaten. It is God's gift of a future after devastation. Receive what grows again with gratitude, and do not use someone else's restored life to tell them the loss no longer matters.
Prayer
God, meet us after seasons of loss. Restore what You will, remove shame, and teach us to receive new provision without denying the years that were eaten. Amen.