Here we have all of our Joel blogs so you can read them in one sitting.
JOEL: PROFILE AND FACTS
The Book of Joel in the Old Testament is short (3 chapters in two sections, 73 verses, 2034 words) but packed with meaning and theology and important Bible passages. The author of the book identifies himself as “Joel the son of Pethuel” in the first verse. Joel is the name of 14 men in the Bible while Pethuel occurs only in this verse to identify the prophet’s father.
In our studying, the dating of Joel is problematic (not the authorship or the inspiration of it). Joel does not mention any kings or political figures or any point of reference that would lead someone to a timeframe of his writing.
The message of Joel is interesting because it comes wrapped in a natural disaster of a plague of locusts. The invasion of these green-leafy munching insects is described and is used to describe the “Day of the Lord” which is a grand day of judgment. God can and does (and did) use disasters to grab people’s attention away from sin and back toward Him. God can and does use natural disasters to discipline wayward peoples.
The most obvious and a very key portion of Joel is 2:28-32 where Joel prophesies/predicts the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2) heralding the beginning of the End Days and the Church Age.
As we go through the Book of Joel, we will see the phases of judgment which allow for repentance. The judgment of God will come for the purpose of the repentance of people. “The Day of the Lord” is a day of judgment (yes!), but it is also a process that is more than one day. It is both. It is both because God offers life even though there are consequences of sin which leads to death.
God is just. God is fair. This means His nature is corrective to us, but also allows us to endure our mistakes. God does what He needs to make lives and situations and souls work out correctly and to purify people. In addition, God is redeeming and fixing all His Creation (Romans 8) and He sets it right. Every part of His Creation gets what is needed to be redeemed and to follow Him.
JOEL CHAPTER 1: BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT THE ‘DAY OF THE LORD’
Joel (whose name means ‘the Lord is God’) chapter 1 opens with a natural disaster in view that is meant to teach and foreshadow about the Day of the Lord (Judgement Day). A locust plague has hit the land and Joel will use this natural disaster to speak to all people about the lack of faith in God and repercussions.
Elders
Drunkards
City Folk
Farmers
Priests
We can see three phases of judgment as Joel sees it (there are patterns):
Judgment (now)
Repentance (now)
Full Restoration (now and not yet)
The judgment that Joel sees is pledged by God and will happen. This natural disaster will destroy crops and cause famine and thirst. The point of the disaster is to prepare the people for mercy. Joel wants people to prepare for mercy which is why He sends the locusts. He wants to help open their hearts so that they can be redeemed.
Please do not miss that the judgment from God is life-giving. The Spirit of God has a twofold effect in the lives of His people: 1) preserve by bringing justice and 2) brings about life by creating a thirst for God Himself. Life can still be restored when repentance is present.
Joel is speaking to the People of Israel because there can be life among those who have dedicated themselves to death. God will prune. God will accept repentance and wants His people to repent (see chapter 2).
Yes! God breaks what He loves if it’s crooked and it is corrupted.
Yes! God gives life when there is a response and gives grace.
Keep in mind that Messianic restoration will come after the Day of the Lord (see chapter 3). Joel presents a progressive day (a present reality and future fulfillment) that is not just one day, but a ‘collective day’ in which God’s plan is unfolded for humanity:
Present Reality: Locust plague in Joel’s day
Future Fulfillment: 722BC (Northern Kingdom)
Future Fulfillment: 586BC (Southern Kingdom)
Future Fulfillment: 70AD (Jerusalem)
Future Fulfillment: Revelation 9 (End Days)
We must keep what Joel and other prophets have said when we read books like Revelation because the visions of the New Testament agree with Old Testament prophecies and at times show their fulfillment. Scripture interprets Scripture.
Overall, Joel brings the Word of God which is a call for repentance for His people. A rebirth is desired by God and He will build back new (Pentecost) and better in Christ including Jews and Gentiles together. The Kingdom of God contains all nations who have repented and accepted the mercy of God.
JOEL CHAPTER 2: PEEKING FORWARD TO THE MESSIAH
Joel wants a trumpet (shophar) sounded to make sure the message about judgment is sent out and heard. He wants to make sure that everyone is warned. This warning is not because people were being attacked by foreign invaders, but rather because the Day of the Lord (the Day of Judgment) was approaching.
The language indicates that the judgment will come upon Israel.
The language indicates that judgment will then come upon all humanity.
The image of fire is used in verse 3 which is a common theme in the prophets (see our study on Amos for further examples) to indicate judgment from God. Two words are used: devour and burn to indicate the intensity and the consuming nature of God’s actions. Ash is left. Think of the word… extinction. The words of verse 11 are also meant to show this as the rhetorical question is asked “who can endure it?” God does not lack power or ability or perseverance or intensity or cause when it comes to discipline and judgment.
Mid-chapter in verse 12 (all the way to verse 27) we see God sending another message at the same time:
“return to me” (verse 12) (verse 13)
“fast” (verse 12) (verse 15)
“weep: and pray (verse 17)
The God of the Universe is not without the will and desire to relent (verse 14) when people repent and turn to Him. This is literally the point of exasperated Jonah and is included at the end of most, if not all, prophetic books lining out gloom and doom. God wants to give grace and mercy for He is life-giving.
Make sure when you read Joel, look at it as straightforward symbolism. Joel describes a judgment coming on Israel, a reaction of their repentance, and a future Messianic Age fulfillment. This pattern is present and how He deals with repentance. This is how God operates:
Judgment Warned
Repentance Desired
Judgment Given
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Gospel Given (a warning to be sure!)
Repentance Desired
Judgment Given by Messiah
Verses 28-32 are a direct prophecy of Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost. On Pentecost, God poured out His Spirit like never before on people and showed wonders. This is all in response to repentance. God heals. God restores. God adds. God gives His Spirit. People deserve nothing and yet God gives of Himself because of His intent for humanity. God will have His humanity the way He wants it according to His sovereign will. People accepted Jesus Christ as Lord (33AD). Judgment came as well (70AD). This is a type and shadow of God’s bigger picture in the Messianic Age at the End of Days.
JOEL CHAPTER 3: ALL ABOUT FLOWING IN TWO VALLEYS
Joel 1: God will judge
Joel 2: God will judge & God will give hope
Joel 3: God will judge & God will give hope
Joel 3 is a little more complicated than the other chapters because he writes how things will end (glorious), but then backs up and explains what will happen in getting to the glorious, blessed days. It is a little confusing.
Chapters 1-2 in Joel, the prophet speaks and ultimately leads to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the fact that His people (both Israel and Judah) will not be ashamed and will be set apart. They will be a different kind of people. The Spirit will mark them (for one thing). God will give the Gospel to the nations and anyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. The Gospel begins with Israel. It doesn’t begin with all the other nations, but it begins with Israel and the Gospel flows from there. They are His people, but they ultimately fail and ultimately will be judged.
Judgment comes and then the Gospel comes.
The Gospel flows out and then judgment comes.
For the unique people who belong to God, judgment is not the end. The people of God (Israel) failed, but God is faithful and works His will and plan anyway. In those days, in the midst of their failure, Jesus Christ makes all the difference.
God fights for Israel.
God fights for Israel by sending Jesus.
God fights for Israel by pouring out His Spirit.
A place mentioned in this chapter, the Valley of Jehoshaphat, was a real valley where physical historical battles took place. This battlefield became a symbol of judgment and annihilation. Joel is speaking about dealing with the nation of Israel and uses the collective memory of the Valley of Jehoshaphat to indicate what God will do… judgment.
Another place is mentioned, the Valley of Decision (not a real place), is a place in which people must choose God or not. They must choose Jesus or not. The Gospel goes out and will force a decision from all peoples in all nations and those who answer His call will be gathered to Him in Zion.
The ultimate fate of Israel (and all God’s people) begins in verse 16 with the roaring thunder of God’s voice. Holiness will extend to the people of God because they are His people. It is significant to note that God uses both ‘Israel’ and ‘Judah’ because He will gather His people by way of the Gospel.
Zion (Jerusalem) will be a refuge for all people who are called by God. All the disasters and judgments will be reversed, and God’s favor will rest on all who call to Him. This fulfillment is ultimately seen in the Book of Revelation when the city of God and the new earth combine to form what we commonly call ‘Heaven’ (Revelation 21).
There is a flowing metaphor in chapter 3 towards the end. It is interesting that God and His blessings are symbolized by fertility and crops and sweet wine and flowing water and not being part of God’s Kingdom is characterized by desolation, wilderness, and flowing blood (much violence). The Promised Land (Old Testament) is always characterized by ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ and here Heaven is seen flowing with more than that.
ULTIMATE MESSAGES OF JOEL
God will judge, but He leaves room for repentance.
God gives mercy through judgment, but there is a limit.
Respond properly in repentance to sin and God will show mercy.
God does what He says He will do cosmically and in our personal lives.
BMD & TMB
Dwelling In Scripture 