Comments

Comments have been prepared by Chris Haslam using reputable commentaries, and checked for accuracy by the Venerable Alan T Perry. While not intended to be exhaustive, they are an aid to reading the Scriptures with greater understanding.

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The first verse tells us that this book is by Joel "son of Penuel". We do not know who this Joel is, for he is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament; however, the text does tell us something about him. First, he was a prophet. There are twelve prophetic books at the end of the Old Testament, of which Joel is one. Second, he has an appreciation of worship in the Temple. He mentions various officials, but never a king, so he probably lived after the return from exile. The earliest he could have written is then 515 BC, when the Temple was rebuilt. Sidon is mentioned. It was destroyed in 343 BC, so Joel wrote before that date. He starts by describing a locust plague and a drought, which he sees as God's punishment. The effects are catastrophic, like the day of the Lord. The people repent, and God restores their fortunes. Again God is in their midst. Israel recognizes God's saving presence and is vindicated, and other nations are (or will be, at the end of time) judged harshly.

After stating that his authority is from God ( 1:1), the prophet says that what he writes is to be told to future generations. He gives a highly realistic account of a plague of locusts. So great was the devastation that there were no grapes with which to make “sweet wine” ( 1:5) for celebrating a feast. The priests are to mourn, for no cereal offerings can be made in the Temple – all the crops have been destroyed. Even “joy withers away among the people” ( 1:12). This invasion, Joel says, is a foretaste of “the day of the Lord” ( 1:15); it is a punishment from God. The “pastures” ( 1:19) are as though burnt by “fire”. Blow the shofar, the ram’s horn, he says, to warn of the approach of the End! ( 2:1) Judah is under attack. So thick are the locusts that the sun is obscured – a sign also of the end times ( 2:2). The insects, like a conquering army on the move, are commanded by God. Can any survive the onslaught? ( 2:11) But there is still a chance: if a person repents and turns to God, perhaps he will be “gracious and merciful” ( 2:13).

Again Joel advises blowing the shofar ( 2:15): to summon the people to a fast. Put off your marriage! ( 2:16) Priests, intercede for the people: may God spare Judah from mockery by other nations, of being thought God-less ( 2:17). God does forgive; he has “pity on his people” ( 2:18). He returns fertility to the land, restores Judah to place of honour among nations, and destroys the locusts. “Early rain” ( 2:23) softened earth parched by the summer heat; it made ploughing possible; “later rain”, in April/May, provided sustenance for summer crops. Trees again bear fruit ( 2:24). God will “repay” ( 2:25) for the destruction by the locusts (“hopper ... cutter” – stages are in insect development) sent by him. He is still Judah’s God, “in the midst of Israel” ( 2:27), the only God. Judgement Day, “the day of the Lord” ( 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31), will come “afterward” ( 2:28), much later. He will grant his power, his “spirit”, to all Judeans, to “sons ...” and even to “slaves” ( 2:29). Signs (“portents”, 2:30) will warn of the coming of the Day. Then the remnant faithful to God “shall be saved” ( 2:32), including those “whom the Lord calls”. Fortunes will be reversed ( 3:1-8): those nations who have oppressed Judah will be judged adversely.

Psalms is a collection of collections. The psalms were written over many centuries, stretching from the days of Solomon's temple (about 950 BC) to after the Exile (about 350 BC.) Psalms are of five types: hymns of praise, laments, thanksgiving psalms, royal psalms, and wisdom psalms. Within the book, there are five "books"; there is a doxology ("Blessed be ... Amen and Amen") at the end of each book.

This is a liturgical song, part of public worship. V. 1a can be rendered as When the Lord brought back those who returned to Zion . When the people first returned from exile in Babylon, they hardly believed their good fortune (“like those who dream”). So great was their success that other nations (v. 2) recognized God’s mighty works on Israel’s behalf, and the people of Israel “rejoiced” (v. 3). But after the initial euphoria, life is difficult. Please, God, “restore our fortunes” (v. 4), as the land around a normally dry river in the desert (“Negeb”) blooms when the water flows. May we, who are sorrowful as we sow, gather the harvest in joyfulness – as God once more acts on our behalf.

1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus are known as the Pastoral Epistles because the author addresses the needs and responsibilities of the leaders of Christian communities. The styles and themes of these letters are so similar that many think they were written by the same person. Although they claim to be written by Paul, the structure of the church they show and the specific content of their teaching indicate that they were written a generation or so after Paul. 1 Timothy begins by emphasizing the importance of correct belief and by cautioning against false teachers. The leaders are mentioned as bishops, deacons and elders. The term used here for the coming of Christ is not found in Paul's letters but is common in pagan Greek writings. In those days, a writer sometimes honoured an earlier leader by writing in his name.

The author has written: “I urge you ... [to] instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine” ( 1:3-4) but rather to teach “divine training” (or the plan of salvation) “that is known by faith”. He portrays Christian life as being like the discipline of servants in a large household.

Now, at a time when Christians were suspect for not joining in worship of Roman gods, an act expected of all, the author urges them to pray for “everyone” ( 2:1), including civil authorities (“kings ...”, 2:2), so that Christians may live “a quiet and peaceable life”, as good citizens yet godly ones. This, he says, is in accord with God’s plan, for he wishes “everyone” ( 2:4) to be saved, through knowledge of Christian “truth”. God wills this for:

His life and death were “attested” (shown to be an authentic part of the plan) “at the right time”, at the time chosen by God. Paul (“I”, 2:7) was “appointed” by God to announce (“herald”) this to all, genuinely sent out by him (“apostle”) to teach doctrine (“faith”) and the truth about God to everyone.

Matthew

This gospel is the first in the New Testament, but it was probably the second to be written. Scholars recognize that it borrows material from Mark, and from a sayings source containing sayings of Jesus and known as Q (for Quelle, German for source). The author shows an understanding of Jewish culture and religion not found in the other gospels. It was probably written about 80 to 90 AD, possibly for a largely Jewish audience.

This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount. In v. 24, Jesus speaks of the impossibility of serving two masters: one cannot love both. “You cannot serve God and wealth”. (Calvin wrote that an idol is anything that comes between us and God.)

A key word in this passage is “worry” (vv. 25, 27, 31). The Greek word means be preoccupied with or be absorbed by . To be preoccupied with food and appearance is to view life much too narrowly. Birds are an example of a proper attitude towards food (v. 26): they work hard to find it, but they do not store it for possible future shortages. Worry, preoccupation, is futile: people desire a long life, but excess concern for it will not lengthen it (v. 27). Wild “lilies” (v. 28), abundant on Palestinian hillsides but dull brown for much of the year, are only brightly coloured for a few weeks. Even “Solomon” (v. 29), known for his accumulation of wealth, could not compare to their (God-given) beauty. The “grass” (v. 30) ends up being “thrown into the oven” as fuel for cooking. But if God cares for such plants, how much more will he provide for, clothe those who are faithful to him. So do not be preoccupied with your physical needs (v. 31). Such preoccupation is wrong on two counts:

Our prime objective must be to put God first, to seek union with him, and to attain godly integrity (“righteousness”, v. 33).

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