Book of Joel Chapter 2 Vs. 23

The Lord Had Pity 

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. Joel 2:23

Be glad then,... The people of the Jews, and especially the spiritual and believing part of them. Such as were born again, that were born of Zion, and born in Zion, and brought up by her, and in her. The children of that Zion or Jerusalem that is the mother of us all. And who were looking for the Messiah, and to whom it would be good news and glad tidings to hear of his coming (Zec. 9:9).

and rejoice in... Not in any creature or creature enjoyment, but in the Lord. In the Word of the Lord your God, In Christ the essential Word (see Phil. 3:3). Though rather Jehovah the Father, the giver and sender of Christ, is here meant, because of what follows. And who is to be rejoiced in by his people, not as an absolute God, but as in Christ, and as their covenant God and Father in him.

Who has chosen them for himself, and is their portion and inheritance; which are reasons sufficient why they should rejoice in him, and others follow:

for he hath... Or rather, "for he hath given you the teacher of righteousness"; to which agrees the Targum. "For he hath returned to you your teacher in righteousness". And so Jarchi paraphrases the words, and interprets them of the prophets in general. "Your prophets that teach you to return unto me, that I may justify you.

and he will... Alluding to the two seasons of the year in which rain was given to the Jews. The former rain fell in Marchesvan, which answers to our September and October, part of each, at their seed time.

And the latter in Nisan, the first month of their ecclesiastical year, and answers to part of March and April, and fell some time before their harvest. And these former and latter rains now fall about the same time.

There is a double meaning here. In the natural, there will be two rains to make the crops grow. This however, is also speaking to the Christians. The former rain was the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. The latter rain happens at the end of the age. This is a mightier outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh.

The second charge (Joel 2:23) was directed to the inhabitants of Zion (i.e., Jerusalem; cf. Joel 2:1) who were earlier instructed to grieve over the destruction wrought by the locusts (cf. Joel 1:5, 1:8, 1:11, 1:13). They could now “rejoice” because the Lord was prepared to restore fertility to their fields. As promised in Deut. 11:14, the autumn and spring rains would come on schedule (in September-October and March-April), producing a bountiful harvest.

The second charge (Joel 2:23) was directed to the inhabitants of Zion (i.e., Jerusalem; cf. Joel 2:1) who were earlier instructed to grieve over the destruction wrought by the locusts (cf. Joel 1:5, 1:8, 1:11, 1:13). They could now “rejoice” because the Lord was prepared to restore fertility to their fields. As promised in Deut. 11:14, the autumn and spring rains would come on schedule (in September-October and March-April), producing a bountiful harvest.

The phrase translated a teacher for righteousness (Joel 2:23) is better rendered, “in righteousness the autumn rains” (cf. NIV marg., NASB, KJV; see Allen, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah, pp. 92-3, n. 26; and Kapelrud, Joel Studies, p. 115). “Teacher” (môreh) is translated “autumn” later in the verse (cf. also Psm. 84:6). “For righteousness” would then probably mean, “according to justice” (i.e., in harmony with the covenantal principle that obedience is justly rewarded with agricultural blessing; see Kapelrud, Joel Studies, p. 116).