Commentaries on the Prophet Joel
Chapter 1.
Lecture Thirty-eighth.
Joel 1:1-4
1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the
land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your
fathers?
3 Tell ye your children of it, and [let] your children [tell] their
children, and their children another generation.
4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and
that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that
which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
"The word of Jehovah which came to Joel, the son of Pethuel".
He names here his father; it is hence probable that he was a man
well known and of some celebrity. But who this Pethuel was, a11 now
are ignorant. And what the Hebrews hold as a general rule, that a
prophet is designated, whenever his father's name is added, appears
to me frivolous; and we see how bold they are in devising such
comments. When no reason for any thing appears to them, they invent
some fable, and allege it as a divine truth. When, therefore, they
are wont thus to trifle, I have no regard for what is held by them
as a rule. But yet it is probable, that when the Prophets are
mentioned as having sprung from this or that father, their fathers
were men of some note.
Now what he declared by saying, that he delivered the word of
the Lord, is worthy of being observed; for he shows that he claimed
nothing for himself, as an individual, as though he wished to rule
by his own judgment, and to subject others to his own fancies; but
that he relates only what he had received from the Lord. And since
the Prophets claimed no authority for themselves, except as far as
they faithfully executed the office divinely committed to them, and
delivered, as it were from hand to hand, what the Lord commanded, we
may hence feel assured that no human doctrines ought to be admitted
into the Church. Why? Because as much as men trust in themselves, so
much they take away from the authority of God. This preface then
ought to be noticed, which almost all the Prophets use, namely, that
they brought nothing of their own or according to their own
judgment, but that they were faithful dispensers of the truth
intrusted to them by God.
And the word is said to have been to Joel; not that God
intended that he alone should be his disciple, but because he
deposited this treasure with him, that he might be his minister to
the whole people. Paul also says the same thing, - that to the
ministers of the Gospel was committed a message for Christ, or in
Christ's name, to reconcile men to God, (2 Cor. 5: 20;) and in
another place he says, 'He has deposited with us this treasure as in
earthen vessels,' (2 Cor. 4: 7.) We now understand why Joel says,
that the word of the Lord was delivered to him, it was not that he
might be the only disciple; but as some teacher was necessary, Joel
was chosen to whom the Lord committed this office. Then the word of
God belongs indeed indiscriminately to all; and yet it is committed
to Prophets and other teachers; for they are, so to speak, as it
were trustees (depositarii - depositories.)
As to the verb "hayah", there is no need of philosophizing so
acutely as Jerome does: "How was the word of the Lord made?" For he
feared lest Christ should be said to be made, as he is the word of
the Lord. These are trifles, the most puerile. He could not,
however, in any other way get rid of the difficulty but by saying
that the word is said to be made with respect to man whom God
addresses, and not with respect to God himself. All this, as ye must
see, is childish; for the Prophet says here only, that the word of
the Lord was sent to him, that is, that the Lord employed him as his
messenger to the whole people. But after having shown that he was a
fit minister of God, being furnished with his word, he speaks
authoritatively, for he represented the person of God.
We now see what is the lawful authority which ought to be in
force in the Church, and which we ought to obey without dispute, and
to which all ought to submit. It is then only that this authority
exists, when God himself speaks by men, and the Holy Spirit employs
them as his instruments. For the Prophet brings not forward any
empty title; he does not say that he is a high priest of the tribe
of Levi, or of the first order, or of the family of Aaron. He
alleges no such thing, but says that the word of God was deposited
with him. Whosoever then demands to be heard in the Church, must of
necessity really prove that he is a preacher of God's word; and he
must not bring his own devices, nor blend with the word any thing
that proceeds from the judgment of his own flesh.
But first the Prophet reproves the Jews for being so stupid as
not to consider that they were chastised by the hand of God, though
this was quite evident. Hence they pervert, in my judgment, the
meaning of the Prophet, who think that punishments are here
denounced which were as yet suspended; for they transfer all these
things to a future time. But I distinguish between this reproof and
the denunciations which afterwards follow. Here then the Prophet
reproaches the Jews, that having been so severely smitten, they did
not gain wisdom; and yet even fools, when the rod is applied to
their backs, know that they are punished. Since then the Jews were
so stupid, that when even chastised they did not understand that
they had to do with God, the Prophet justly reproves this madness.
"Hear", he says, "ye old men; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the
land, and declare this to your children". But the consideration of
this passage I shall put off till tomorrow.
Prayer.
Grant, Almighty God that as almost the whole world give such loose
reins to their licentiousness, that they hesitate not either to
despise or to regard as of no value thy sacred word - Grant, O Lord
that we may always retain such reverence as is justly due to it and
to thy holy oracles and be so moved whenever thou deignest to
address us that being truly humbled, we may be raised up by faith to
heaven, and by hope gradually attain that glory which is as yet hid
from us. And may we at the same time so submissively restrain
ourselves, as to make it our whole wisdom to obey thee and to do
thee service, until thou gatherest us into thy kingdom, where we
shall be partakers of thy glory, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Calvin, Commentary on Joel
(continued in part 2...)
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