In Today's Email:
Welcome to the Book of Joel!
This is likely the oldest of the prophetical books. We know little about this prophet. Its theme is judgment against Judah. An invasion of locusts upon the land is the catalyst for this message of current and future judgment.
A few quick facts about Joel:
The author is Joel (“Jehovah is God”). There are more than a dozen Joels in Scripture.
This book was written around 865-835 B.C.
The key verses are 2:28-29 – “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”
A brief outline:
Current Devastation – 1:1-20
Coming Devastation – 2:1-17
Coming Deliverance – 2:18-3:21
Joel 1 Notes
In this chapter the plague of locusts is used as a call for repentance.
vs. 1-4 – The invasion of locusts is described as something legendary that would be passed down through history. Remember how reliant these cultures would be on their grain harvest. Such an event would mean starvation for many. In vs. 4 there is an interesting use of four words to describe the locusts, possibly in different stages of their life cycles. The bottom line is that the insects ate everything.
vs. 5-7 – The people are called to awaken from their stupor to realize the judgment that had come upon them. They continued in their revelry as if the good times would never end.
vs. 8-14 – The people are called to repent in the face of the judgment that had befallen them. Note that God had already given the prescription for this very situation in II Chronicles 7:13-14.
vs. 15-18 – We see here the first jumps from the present devastation to a future judgment. There present situation was terrible, but that “the day of the Lord” would be far worse.
vs. 19-20 – Even the beasts of the field had enough sense to call out to God! The people did not. The prophet steps in as intercessor.
Joel 2 Notes
In this chapter we see future judgments and blessings.
vs. 1-2 – We turn here to future events for Judah. It is difficult to separate out what is happening. Joel uses the present judgment of the plague of locusts as a foundation. He then seems to speak about events in the Tribulation period, but they may also reference the coming invasions of Assyrian and Babylonian.
vs. 3-11 – An army from the north (see vs. 20) is pictured. This is not the locusts, but something far more terrible. Assyria? Babylon? Armageddon? Maybe all three? I think Armageddon is the primary application. They cover the land like a horde of locusts covering a field.
vs. 12-17 – A call for repentance before that day of terrible judgment came. I love the opening of vs. 13. God did not desire outward expressions of repentance. He wanted the people to change their hearts, turn from sin, and seek Him.
vs. 18 – God responds to the repentance of the Jews.
vs. 19-27 – Here is described blessing beyond judgment. The full fulfillment of this passage is the Millennial Kingdom.
vs. 28-31 – The primary application of these verses is the Millennial Kingdom. Peter famously quotes this passage in Acts 2:16. I agree with J. Vernon McGee, who says: “[Peter] does not say it was a fulfillment of what Joel had predicted. Rather, he said, ‘This is that’ – this is like that or similar to that.” We have only a taste now of what is described here. The best is yet to come!
vs. 32 - The deliverance seen here is tied to Zion, Jerusalem, and the faithful Jewish remnant. I think it speaks of those that trust in Christ at the close of the Tribulation to enter the Millennial Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46).
Joel 3 Notes
In this chapter, future judgment against the nations is seen.
vs. 1-8 – A future judgment of the nations is to take place in the valley of Jehoshaphat (a.k.a, Armageddon). The crimes they are judged for are those against Israel. God will avenge Israel and bless it. The godless nations? They face his terrible wrath.
vs. 9-16 – God stirs the nations to gather for the judgment at Armageddon. Note in vs. 10 that the reverse of the Millennial Kingdom will occur: they will turn their plowshares into swords (compare to Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3).
vs. 17-21 - The Glory of the Millennial Kingdom is described.
Closing Thoughts
What does it take for us to repent of our sins? What does God have to do to get our attention? Often we ignore the gentle nudges of the Spirit on our heart. Sadly, many people have to be knocked flat on their back before the look up to God! Learn to run to Him at the faintest whisper of conviction. Do not harden your heart. Keep it soft so that it does not take something like an invasion of locusts to turn it.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today appears often under the heading “Impending Judgments”. It was written by Anne Steele and wonderfully captures the themes of judgment and repentance seen in Joel.
Come, let our souls adore the Lord
Whose judgments yet delay;
Who yet suspends the lifted sword,
And gives us time to pray.
Great is our guilt, our fears are great,
But let us not despair;
Still open is the mercy seat
To penitence and prayer.
Kind Intercessor, to Thy love
This blessèd hope we owe;
O let Thy mercies plead above,
While we implore below!
Though justice near Thy awful throne
Attends Thy dread command,
Lord, hear Thy servants, hear Thy Son,
And save a guilty land.