Joel 2:27

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27) I am in the midst of Israel.—This Divine assurance, similar to that with which the book ends, prepares the way for the spiritual blessings about to be announced.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:15-27 The priests and rulers are to appoint a solemn fast. The sinner's supplication is, Spare us, good Lord. God is ready to succour his people; and he waits to be gracious. They prayed that God would spare them, and he answered them. His promises are real answers to the prayers of faith; with him saying and doing are not two things. Some understand these promises figuratively, as pointing to gospel grace, and as fulfilled in the abundant comforts treasured up for believers in the covenant of grace.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel - God had foretold their rebellion His forsaking them, "the troubles" which should "find" them, and that they should say, "Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?" Deuteronomy 31:17. It had been the mockery of the Pagan in their distress, "Where is their God?" Joel 2:17. "Now, by the fulfillment of His promises and by all God's benefits, they should know that He was among them by special grace as His own peculiar people." Still more was this to be fulfilled to Christians, in whose heart He dwells by love and grace, and of whom He says, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there will I be in the midst of them." In the highest sense, "God was in the midst of them," in that "God the Son, equal to God the Father as touching His Godhead, did, in the truth of human nature, take our flesh. This to see and know, is glory and bliss ineffable. Therefore He repeats, and by repeating, confirms, what he had said, "And My people shall never be ashamed." Yea, glorious, magnified, honored, shall be the people, to whom such a Son was promised, and of whom He was born. Glorious to them is that which the Apostle saith, that "He took not on Him the nature of Angels, but He took the seed of Abraham," and this glory shall be eternal."

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

27. know that I am in the midst of Israel—As in the Old Testament dispensation God was present by the Shekinah, so in the New Testament first, for a brief time by the Word made flesh dwelling among us (Joh 1:14), and to the close of this dispensation by the Holy Spirit in the Church (Mt 28:20), and probably in a more perceptible manner with Israel when restored (Eze 37:26-28).

never be ashamed—not an unmeaning repetition from Joe 2:26. The twice-asserted truth enforces its unfailing certainty. As the "shame" in Joe 2:26 refers to temporal blessings, so in this verse it refers to the spiritual blessings flowing from the presence of God with His people (compare Jer 3:16, 17; Re 21:3).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

And ye, who repent, pray, are blessed with such answer to your prayers,

shall know; by experience shall see, and acknowledge.

That I am in the midst of Israel; my true Israel, obedient Israel; I am with them to bless them, defend them, guide them, and provide for them.

That I am the Lord; the almighty and everlasting God.

Your God, as I was the God of your father Abraham; yours in peculiar manner by covenant, and to redeem you from evil.

And none else; that there is not a god beside me, that the idols you formerly doted upon were no gods, that the idols the heathen boast of are a doctrine of lies, and deceive them that trust on them.

My people shall never be ashamed: see Joel 2:26.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,.... The presence of God among his people shall be so manifest, the tokens of it so clear, that it shall be easily known, by the impressions of his love upon them; the teachings of his Spirit in them; the usefulness of the word and ordinances to them; the spiritual and heavenly frame of soul they shall be favoured with, and the savouriness of their conversation; this is the blessing Christ has promised to Gospel ministers and churches, Matthew 28:20;

and that I am the Lord your God, and none else; that he is their covenant God and Father, and acknowledge none else:

and my people shall never be ashamed; which is repeated for the certainty of it; see Joel 2:26.

Geneva Study Bible

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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

27. The restoration of the people’s prosperity will further give them the assurance that Jehovah is in their midst, and will continue their defender and deliverer for ever.

in the midst of Israel] as its present helper and saviour: comp. Exodus 17:7; Numbers 11:20; Numbers 14:14; Deuteronomy 7:21; Deuteronomy 31:17; Joshua 3:10; Hosea 11:9; Isaiah 12:6 al.

and that I am Jehovah your God] Cf. Joel 3:17, “And ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God.” The phrase is a stereotyped one, which occurs (with or without your God) often in certain parts of the O.T., usually to denote the conviction produced by some great act of judgment or deliverance upon those who witness it. In Ezekiel (who uses it—with ye, they, or thou, as the case may be—more than 50 times) it is a standing refrain, coming often at the end of a paragraph, or a prophecy, as Ezekiel 6:7; Ezekiel 6:10; Ezekiel 6:13-14, Ezekiel 7:4; Ezekiel 7:9; Ezekiel 7:27, Ezekiel 20:42, Ezekiel 25:5; Ezekiel 25:7; Ezekiel 25:11; Ezekiel 25:17, Ezekiel 36:38, Ezekiel 37:13; Ezekiel 37:28, Ezekiel 39:6-7; Ezekiel 39:22; Ezekiel 39:28 : it occurs also several times in the priestly sections of the Pent. (Exodus 6:7; Exodus 7:5; Exodus 14:4; Exodus 14:18; Exodus 16:12; Exodus 29:46), and occasionally besides (Exodus 10:2 [cf. Exodus 8:18 b]; 1 Kings 20:13; 1 Kings 20:28; Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 60:16). Comp. the writer’s Introduction, p. 276 f.

and (that) there is none else] For who but Jehovah can cause the heavens to give forth rain (Jeremiah 14:22), or the earth to bear fruit abundantly? Comp. Isaiah 45:5-6; Isaiah 45:18; also Deuteronomy 4:35; Deuteronomy 4:39, 1 Kings 8:60.

28–32 (ch. 3 in the Hebrew). The hearts of His people having been directed towards Him (Joel 2:26-27) by the material benefits conferred in Joel 2:23-25, Jehovah promises next to superadd spiritual gifts; He pours forth His spirit upon them, with the result that all are endowed with clearer perceptions of Divine truth (Joel 2:28-29): His own people being thus provided for, the signs of an approaching judgement upon the nations will then manifest themselves (Joel 2:30 f.); amid which, however, those who, in virtue of the regenerating influence of the spirit (Joel 2:28), are become the true children of God, will be delivered (Joel 2:32).

Joel 2:27

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

They will learn thereby that Jehovah is present among His people, and the only true God, who does not suffer His people to be put to shame. The repetition of ולא יבשׁוּ וגו, by which the promised grace is guaranteed to the people for all ages, serves as a rhetorical rounding off of the section (see at Joel 2:20).