John Trapp on Joel 2:11

Verſe 11 And the Lord ſhall utter his voice before his army] In the head of his army, as Generals uſe to do for incouraging the ſouldiers. A General ſhould be like Quintilians Orator, Vir bonus, dicendi peritus, both valiant and eloquent, as was Cato Cenſorius, Si actu ejus penitus ignoraſſes, per linguam tamen militem eſſe diceres, ut quidam de Caeſare. Optimus Orator, Optimus etiam Imperator ſaith Pliny: and Julius Caeſar, and Hunniades, who were Maſters of ſpeech as well as men of their hands: So was Joab Davids General, of whoſe ſpeech to the army 2 Sam 10.12. Pellican ſaith, Non potuit vox Duce dignior cogitari, A braver ſpeech could not have been uttered by the mouth of a mortal. But here God himſelf uttereth his voyce before his army: for the Lord is a man of war Exod. 15.3. a Victor of warres (as the Chalde there hath it) and what wonder ſith the voice of the Lord is powerfull, the voyce of the Lord is full of Majeſty. Pſal. 29.4. he ſets on and gives the ſignal of the battel to theſe Locuſts, he puts ſpirit into them and cryes Courage, my hearts: and thence it is, that they are ſo valorous and victorious.

for his camp is very great] His camp theſe Locuſts are called, though they knew it not. He hiſſeth for the Flie of Egypt and for the Bee, that is in the land of Aſſyria. And they ſhall come and reſt all of them in the deſolate vallyes, &c. Eſa. 7.18, 19. The Aſſyrian, is the rod of Gods anger, and the ſtaf in his hand. I will ſend him ſaith the Lord, againſt an hypocriticall nation, to avenge the quarrel of my covenant. Howbeit he meaneth not ſo, neither doth his heart think ſo &c. Eſay. 10.5, 6, 7. But it is here, as when in applying of horſe-leeches, the Phyſician ſeeketh the health of his patient, the leech only the filling of his gorge. Almighty God as he diſpoſeth and ordereth membra culicis & pulicis, as Auſtin hath it, the members of the meaneſt creatures: ſo by the ſame power and providence, he over-ruleth all their motions, to his own glory.

for he is ſtrong that executeth his word] Or, that thing is ſtrong, that weak Locuſt, ſet a work by God, ſhall do his will vigorouſly (and not faintly as Jer. 48.10.) ſhall go through ſtitch with it, and none ſhall hinder it.

for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible] Tremble therefore and humble under this mighty hand of God: let this earthquake worke in you an heart-quake, theſe horrible commotions and calamities draw from you a ſhower of teares, or at leaſt a ſtorm of ſighs for your ſins: unleſſe ye hold it better to be carnally ſecured then ſoundly comforted.

who can abide it?] Or elſe avoid it, otherwiſe then by repentance? Am. 8.12. Fly,Dr. Reinolds ſaith a Reverend man, from Gods anger to Gods grace. Blood-letting is a cure of bleeding: and a burn a cure againſt a burn. Running to God is the way to eſcape him: as to cloſe, and get in with him that would ſtrike you, doth avoid the blow.