And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you.
locust . . . cankerworm . . . caterpiller . . . palmer worm--the reverse order from Joe 1:4, where (see on Joe 1:4) God will restore not only what has been lost by the full-grown consuming locust, but also what has been lost by the less destructive licking locust, and swarming locust, and gnawing locust.
The barns overflow with grain, the vats run over with wine and oil, this is God repaying the years the locusts consumed. He uses 'years' with poetical force to express the violence and scale of devastation, and now He reverses it entirely. The same God who commanded that plague as His army now commands abundance, and His people will know Him as their God alone.
AI summary
Commenting on Joel 2:24-25
Mark how swift God is to help His people once they truly humble themselves and seek His face. They prayed for sparing; He answers with comfort and covenant faithfulness. He is jealous for His own land and for their dignity, He will not let them lie open to reproach as a miserable people. His compassion toward the penitent is a great encouragement.
AI summary
Commenting on Joel 2:18-27