Last month, we began to examine the key prophetic Book of Joel. We continue our introduction.
Summary of Joel
It starts off with catastrophe. A plague of locusts followed by severe drought, which can be disastrous for a nation whose primary industry is agriculture. Yet, these things, allowed by Almighty God, serve a noble purpose: like an alarm clock, to help the people of God wake up to righteousness and respond with repentance and faith. Such action can spawned a much needed revival.
In practical terms, Judah was called to convene a solemn assembly (1:14; 2:15-16), repent, and come back to God with weeping, mourning, and prayers of mercy (2:12-17). In all this, we are introduced to ‘The Day of the Lord,’ mentioned (5x) in Joel: 1:15; 2:1, 11, 30; 3:14. For the unrighteous, this Day is bad news but for the righteous, it is the Perfect Day. Part of that great blessing will be a universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by great signs and wonders.
The plagues in chapter 1 are just the warm-up for the ultimate event at the end of the age. God then gathers the nations at the end in an Armageddon scenario and they will pay dearly for their sins. The rebels will be defeated and unsaved nations humiliated; but Jerusalem and Judah will prevail because ‘the LORD dwells in Zion’ (3:21).
Timing
Hard to pinpoint because there is no mention of kings, Babylon, Assyria, or the Northern Kingdom. This lack of historic reference point means it could be in the 9th Century BC during the reign of King Joash (835-796 BC) or even post-exilic, meaning the 6th Century BC. Joel and Amos have some common material (Joel 3:16 and Amos 1:2; Joel 3:18 and Amos 9:13) and a similar style to Isaiah and Micah. The locust invasion of Judah, where the sky turned black and the land was denuded of all greenery, was the catalyst for the prophecy.
Distinctive of the Book of Joel
1. God’s Sovereignty: Links events in history like invasions or natural disasters as God’s means of bringing His people to repentance.
2. Pentecost: It gives the most profound prophecy about the last day outpouring of the Holy Spirit, fulfilled in the Book of Acts and also in our day.
3. Natural Disasters: Locusts, drought, famine, fires, foreign invasions, heavenly signs are all seen as signs of God’s judgment against spiritual and moral decadence.
4. Effective prophet: Joel is a Godly man and role model who succeeds to bring God’s people into repentance and thus reap the positive fruit it brings.
5. Masterpiece: The Book of Joel is considered a masterpiece of Hebrew literature.
New Testament References to Joel
A. Acts 2:16-21: Peter quotes Joel in his Pentecost Day sermon; 3,000 people were saved that day;
B. Matthew 24:29: Jesus speaks of a time where the sun and stars loose their brightness during the Day of the Lord (Joel 2:10);
C. Romans 10:13: Paul uses Joel 2:32saying whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved;
D. Revelation 8:12: John uses Joel 2:10in describing event of the tribulation.
E. Revelation 9: One of the most disturbing chapters in the Bible, it derives its locust invasion to Joel’s own experience.
Old Testament Key Words:
Judah (6x): 3:1, 6, 8, 18, 19, 20
Jerusalem (4x): 3:1, 6, 17, 20
Israel (3x): 2:27; 3:2, 16
Zion (7x): 2:1, 15, 23; 32; 3:16; 17, 21. Zion means Mount Zion, Jerusalem, the land of Israel, or the Jewish people, depending on the context. The Book of Joel ends with the statement that the Lord dwells in Zion (3:21).
Fig tree (3x): 1:7, 12; 2:22
Day of the Lord (5x): 1:15; 2:1, 11, 30; 3:14
Outline of Joel
I. Day of the Lord in Joel’s Day (1:1-20)
A. Day of Locusts (1:1-12)
B. Day of Drought (1:13-20)
II. Day of the Lord in the Last Days (2:1-3:21)
A. Imminent Day of the Lord (2:1-27)
1. Prophecy of Judah’s Imminent Invasion (2:1-11)
2. Promise of Judah’s Salvation (conditional) (2:12-27)
B. Ultimate Day of the Lord (2:28-3:21)
1. Final Events before the Day of the Lord (2:28-32)
2. Events at the Day of the Lord (3:1-21)
a. Gentiles judged (3:1-15)
b. Judah restored (3:16-21)