Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 2:17

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD weep between the porch and the altar , and let them say , Spare thy people , O LORD, and give not ; thine heritage to reproach that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God ?

Vid. chapter 1. ver. 13. let. l. m. †. n.

That stately Porch built by Solomon, 1 King. 6.3. and Ezek. 40.48, 49.

Not of Incense for that was in the Holy place, but the great brazen Altar, or Altar of Burnt-offering, which stood at some distance from this Porch, and here are the Priests commanded to stand, fasting and praying, whence they might be heard and seen by the people in the next Court, in which the people were wont to pray

With loud voice and with louder heart and affection, after this manner let them pray and intercede with God.

This includes, confession of sin, acknowledging Gods Justice, laying themselves at the foot of God for mercy and imploring of mercy, though we have sinned and deserve severe wrath yet spare, deal not with us as we deserve.

This includes all they can plead from the Covenant of God with them, his grace, promise, faithfulness, &c. we are thy peculiar people, thou art our God therefore spare, &c.

Thou onely canst expose us to Famine and servitude, and both will come upon us if thou first give us up to these predooming locusts they will consume all, and if thou after give us up to those Nations which as locusts are innumerable, & irresistable. Oh give us not up to them.

Chosen, redeemed, possessed through many ages by thee, O Lord, even since we came out of Egypt thou hast owned us for thine heritage, though whilest we were impenitent, and sin'd high against thee we deserved to be cast off; now we return, repent and pray, be gracious to us and continue to own and bless thine heritage, since thou canst make it fruitful and beautiful, command it to excel in both, cultivate, fence, and watch over it, 'tis thine heritage.

It is a reproach to any Land that it starves or eats up the inhabitants thereof, Ezek, 36.30. and Num. 13.32. and Famine though by Locusts will be a reproach to this thine heritage, it will be greater reproach to be slaves to the Nations signified by the Locusts, therefore of mercy deliver us from both one and the other.

Whether Assyrians, or Chaldeans, or Babylonians.

Conquer first and then enslave thy people, or, as the word will bear, take them up for a taunt and proverb when they shall know that they leave their own Land as too barren a place to maintain them, or seek their Bread at a dear rate in Heathen Lands.

Nay these barbarous people will not so much consider our sins, or justifie our God, but they will reproach God, our God, the great God as if unable to maintain us. Oh spare for thine own glory sake, never let them as Psal. 115.2. deride thee our God.

Marginal references: Ezek. 8.16. Matth. 23.35.; Or, use a by-word against them.; Psal. 42.10. and 79.10. Micah 7.10.