Healing and Restoration

      Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. The LORD answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. “I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield. “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. “The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “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 2:18–27
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Healing and Restoration
It is the nature of our God to have pity. He is merciful. We deserve eternal damnation and the suffering of hell because of our sin, but our God doesn’t give us what we deserve. He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love for you. The Small Catechism reminds us that our God is a jealous God. He will not allow you to worship another god. He will not divide the worship he is due with any other. However, he is also jealous of you. He will not let anyone else have you. He is jealous of his people, and he is jealous of his land. Thus, our God sustains us both in body and soul, giving us everything that we need to support this body and life and eternal life. It is also the nature of our God to be love. Behold, He sends you clothing and shoes, food and drink, house, home, land, animals, and all that you have. He sends you forgiveness in the declaration of his Holy Word among you. He calls you his children for the sake of Jesus and his work on the cross. Fear not, when others rail against you, fear not, oh child of God, rejoice and be glad, for the Lord has done great things!