Joel 2:21-24

Joel called on the land, personified to represent its people, to rejoice because the Lord had done great things (in contrast to the enemy army, Joel 2:20). The NIV interpreted the last line of Joel 2:20 as referring to the Lord, but it probably refers to the invading army, as the NASB, AV, and RSV translated it. Specifically, he had delivered His people from a much larger and more powerful enemy invasion, assuming the Judahites’ repentance. The animals too could stop fearing because God’s blessing had returned to the land. Green pastures had replaced brown, and trees and vines had again become abundantly fruitful rather than dry and lifeless (cf. Joel 1:7; Joel 1:10-12; Joel 1:19). Fall and spring rains, signs of divine blessing (cf. Deuteronomy 11:14), had replaced drought, so the Lord’s people could again rejoice rather than grieving (cf. Joel 1:5; Joel 1:8; Joel 1:11; Joel 1:13; Joel 1:20). The 1978 NIV translation "a teacher for righteousness" (Joel 2:23) is better rendered "the autumn rains for your righteousness." [Note: See Kapelrud, p. 116; or Patterson, p. 254.] The threshing floors would be full of grain and the vats would overflow with new wine and oil (cf. Joel 1:17).