sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the residents of the land tremble,
in fact, it is near —
like the dawn spreading over the mountains;
and never will again
in all the generations to come.2:2 Ex 10:14
3A fire devours in front of them,2:3 Ps 97:3; Is 9:18–19
and behind them a flame blazes.
The land in front of them
but behind them,
it is like a desert wasteland;2:3 Ex 10:5,15; Ps 105:34–35
there is no escape from them.
and they gallop like war horses.
5They bound on the tops of the mountains.
Their sound is like the sound of chariots,2:5 Rv 9:9
like a mighty army deployed for war.
all faces turn pale.
7They attack as warriors attack;
they scale walls as men of war do.
Each goes on his own path,2:7 Pr 30:27
and they do not change their course.
8They do not push each other;
each proceeds on his own path.
They dodge the arrows, never stopping.
9They storm the city;
they run on the wall;
they climb into the houses;2:9 Ex 10:6
they enter through the windows like thieves.2:9 Jr 9:21
the sky shakes.
and the stars cease their shining.2:10 Jl 3:15
in the presence of his army.2:11 Jl 2:25
His camp is very large;
who can endure it?2:11 Ezk 22:14
God’s Call for Repentance
12Even now —
this is the Lord’s declaration —
turn to me with all your heart,2:12 1Kg 8:35–40; 2Ch 7:14
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.2:12 Est 4:3
not just your clothes,2:13 Jr 41:5
and return to the Lord your God.
For he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,
and he relents from sending disaster.2:13 Ex 34:6; Nm 14:18; 1Ch 21:15; Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Jr 18:8; Jnh 4:2
and leave a blessing behind him,2:14 Hg 2:19
so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering
Announce a sacred fast;2:15 2Kg 10:20
proclaim a solemn assembly.
16Gather the people;
gather the infants,
even babies nursing at the breast.
Let the groom leave his bedroom,2:16 Ps 19:5
and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
Let them say,
an object of scorn among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
God’s Response to His People
18Then the Lord became jealous for his land2:18 Ezk 36:5,6; Zch 1:14; 8:2 and spared his people.2:18 Is 60:10; 63:9,15
19The Lord answered his people:
Look, I am about to send you
grain, new wine, and fresh oil.2:19 Jr 31:12; Hs 2:21–22
You will be satiated with them,
and I will no longer make you
20I will drive the northerner far from you2:20 Jr 1:14–15
and banish him to a dry and desolate land,
his front ranks into the Dead Sea,2:20 Zch 14:8
and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea.2:20 Dt 11:24
His stench will rise;
for he has done astonishing things.
rejoice and be glad,
for the Lord has done astonishing things.2:21 Ps 126:2–3
22Don’t be afraid, wild animals,
the trees bear their fruit,
and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches.
in the Lord your God,2:23 Is 12:2–6
because he gives you the autumn rain2:23 Or the teacher of righteousness
for your vindication.2:23 Or righteousness2:23 Dt 11:13–15
He sends showers for you,
and the vats will overflow
with new wine and fresh oil.
25I will repay you for the years
the young locust, the destroying locust,
and the devouring locust —
my great army that I sent against you.
My people will never again be put to shame.2:26 Is 45:17
and that I am the Lord your God,
My people will never again be put to shame.2:27 Is 49:23
God’s Promise of His Spirit
28After this2:28–32 Ac 2:17–21
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your old men will have dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29I will even pour out my Spirit
on the male and female slaves in those days.2:29 1Co 12:13
30I will display wonders
blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood2:31 Is 13:9–10; 34:4; Mt 24:29; Mk 13:24
before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.2:31 Zph 1:14–16; Mal 4:1,5
32Then everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved,2:32 Rm 10:13
for there will be an escape
for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
as the Lord promised,2:32 Ob 17
among the survivors the Lord calls.
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
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