Joel 1:5-9 Awake, you drunkards, and weep; and howl, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.… I. Look at some of these barked fig-trees. High hopes are often changed into cruel disappointments. Bright prospects of coming happiness are turned, like fairy gold, into withered leaves. A young man's fig-tree is a healthy body and high spirits, and that tree is barked when affliction seizes him, and bodily weakness and mental depression make him as pale and helpless as a downright old man. A workman's fig-tree is regular work and a living wage; that tree is barked when work is scarce and wages low. The tradesman's fig-tree is a prosperous business; providence smiles upon him, friends multiply, and everything promises a golden harvest, when suddenly he meets with disappointment, his schemes are thwarted, the bank fails, and he is doomed to spend a helpless and penniless old age. A family's fig-tree is the father and husband; and it is barked when he is smitten down by death. The old man's fig-tree is a gladsome old age, which he hopes to spend with his wife and children "about him"; and that tree is barked when he suddenly dies before he has realised a thousandth part of his anticipated enjoyment. The invalid's fig-tree is some glimmering hope of returning health; and it is barked when the doctor tells him that his disease is incurable, and that he must die. II. WHO BARKS OUR FIG-TREES? The prophet, looking up to God, said, "Thou hast barked my fig-tree." The affairs of men, and especially of good men, are under God's wise, omniscient, benevolent, and almighty control. Were there no particular, there could be no general providence, for it seems quite impossible to take care of the whole ii the separate and dependent parts be neglected. He holds the helm of the universe, and He will bring us into the desired haven. III. WHY DOES GOD BARK OUR FIG-TREES? 1. Does He do it unkindly? No! He is too good to be unkind. 2. Does He do it unwisely? No! He is too wise to err. 3. God barks our fig-trees in mercy, and not in wrath. We are prone to think too much of those trees; to bestow too much thought and affection upon them, and to expect too much happiness from them. 4. Barked fig-trees destroy worldliness. Thomas Erskine used to say: "Education would cease if we and our circumstances fitted each other." If our position in this world were always one of unmixed comfort, I'm afraid we should never stretch our desires for a better. It is often said that the world satisfies no one; but, as a matter of fact, most men are so satisfied with it that they feel no concern for a better country, that is, a heavenly. Now, what is God to do with such people if their souls are not to be lost, but saved? They must be rendered dissatisfied with their earthly condition, and be made to welcome the hope of a happier state beyond the grave. And what is so likely to do this as some dispensation which snatches from them the objects of their inordinate affection? 5. Barked fig-trees help to mature Christian character. In the midst of our heaviest trials and deepest woes we can sing of mercy as well as of judgment. (1) Job's fig-tree was barked (James 5:11). (2) Jacob's fig-tree was barked. The loss of Joseph was regarded by his family as a great domestic calamity. (3) Paul's fig-tree was barked. He suffered imprisonment at Rome; some false brethren created division and strife in the Church. (4) Barked fig-trees help to develop latent qualities. It was when Paul Gerdhart was banished from his church and manse, for preaching unpalatable truth, that he wrote that inspiring hymn, "Give to the winds thy fears," etc. IV. WHAT ARE THE LESSONS THAT THIS SUBJECT SUGGESTS? 1. Recognise the providence of God in all the events of life. 2. Moral goodness is the aim of all God's dispensations. 3. Trust God's providence. (H. Woodcock.) Parallel Verses KJV: Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. |
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