Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 1:15

15 Alas for the day : for the day of the LORD is at hand , and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come .

This verse and the three next may be lookt upon either as a particular declaration of the grounds of this Fast, or as a direction how to manage the Fast, a suggesting to the people what they should spread before the Lord, or else as the words of the Priests, bewailing the calamitous state of the Land,

It is a very pathetical bemoaning themselves, which speaks their sense of the evil they suffer'd,

The day of trouble, sorrow and great distress.

This explains the former; It is a day of greater troubles then yet they felt, troubles which God will heap upon them, a day in which God will be Judge, and punish by the locusts, by the drought, and by Babylonians, unless you repent.

Great calamities were now upon them, and greater were approaching to them, if the Prophet Ioel aim at the Captivity either, of the two Tribes, it was 180 years off, if of the ten Tribes it was about 60 years off, for he Prophesieth about the latter end of Ieroboam the second; it is likely therefore he aimeth at some other calamities.

A total overthrow of the Kingdom, the worship of God, and all your labours in your land.

Whose displeasure as a consuming fire, can and will burn up all before it, his power and hand will do it, and then nothing can resist it.

Most certainly and speedily nothing can retard, or divert it, unless Fasting, Prayers and Tears, and amendment do it.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 30.7.; [illegible: 1 word]. 13.6.