You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God,who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Joel 2.26-27
These words from Joel 2 are possibly the climax of the whole book. There are so many promises packed into the two verses. 1) You shall be satisfied. 2) You will praise the name. 3) You will never again be put to shame. 4) You shall know my presence amongst you. 5) You will know that I am your God. 6) You will never again be put to shame. And all this is the result of the people’s wholehearted repentance and cleansing, their acceptance of God’s vindication.
By far the greatest promises are that they will know God as their own God and that they will know His presence. As written to these Old Testament Hebrews, God’s absence meant desolation and famine – certain death, therefore to have the Lord abide with them meant prosperity and life. It is a wonderful promise that comes as the result of the freedom to repent.
As Christians living in the 21st Century these promises not only hold weight for us, but they are completely and utterly true. In Jesus Christ we are satisfied, we praise His name, because of Him we will never be put to shame and by the deposit of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our salvation can we know God and know His presence amongst us today.
All of these things are real and legitimate expectations we should have in following Jesus.
Dan Scott