Joel

Joel 1

There is no fixed date for this book, no references to kings or events that place Joel in the context of Biblical history. There are at least three possible interpretations of the plague of locusts. All of them are for punishment of sin.

• A real plague of locusts like the eighth plague on  Egypt. (Exodus 10:1-20)
• Symbolically, a human army or armies. (2 Kings 25:8-10)
• A supernatural army of angels or demons, perhaps in the Last Days. (Revelation 9:3-11) 

When Peter cited Joel on Pentecost, he did not refer to locusts, so we have nothing to tie this prophesied plague in chapter 1 to Israel’s history, or the church, or the end times. (Acts 2:16)

Joel 1:1-4 This is a once in a generation event, or perhaps a once-ever event, not just a routine plague. Four kinds of locusts are called out. There have been different names assigned to the four categories, which have had various translations suggested, but the important point is this: there won’t be anything left when they are done.

Joel 1:5 Wine is a symbol of joy and celebration (John 2:1-11), but it must be taken in context. It is not the only thing in life. (Matthew 26:27-29) On Pentecost, the disciples were accused of drinking too much wine. (Acts 2:13) The judgment Joel prophesies will fall because the drunkards consumed too much wine and fallen asleep. Could this pertain to a church so enamored of sacramental wine that it fails to warn the world of the consequences of rejecting Jesus?

Joel 1:6-7 The locusts are compared to lions, who have destroyed both vine and tree. Branches without bark will die.

Joel 1:8-12 Deep mourning will replace joy, to all walks of life - young brides-to-be, priests, farmers. Perhaps overuse of the wine has led to a judgment that prevents it from being abused. Farmers, whether they grow grains, vines, or trees, will see their crops ruined.

Joel 1:13-15 Priests who have failed in their ministry need to repent, fast, and call for a holy assembly of elders. Since they are without food, they should turn their fasting towards the Lord. The day of destruction that Moses warned about has come. (Deuteronomy 28:42) Joel calls it the day of the Lord in multiple places, a term Isaiah also used. 

Joel 1:16-20 The destruction is broad and enumerated to include foods of all types - both grown and from animals. Even in the wilderness pastures and trees and water are gone, and wild animals starve.

Joel 2

Joel 2:1-11 It is unclear if this passage describing the invasion by a terrible army is a metaphor for the locust plague or a description of it, or if this army will invade following the locust plague. The subsequent promise to repay for the tears the locust has eaten does not clarify the issue. Others have suggested that this is a description of nuclear-tipped missiles (ICBM’s) in a nuclear war that destroys civilization.

• A fire devours before and behind. Perhaps a nuclear detonation that follows, after the missile is propelled by rocket fuel.
• The land becomes a desert waste, essentially everything is consumed by a nuclear explosion, leaving only dirt.
• Crackling fire that consumes stubble could describe the outward flow of superheated gases outside the fireball that burns everything combustible far outside the initial explosion.
• They march in line, not swerving, according to their pre-programmed trajectories.
• They pass through conventional defenses because of their immense speed descending from very high altitudes or outer space.
• Before them the earth shakes and the heavens tremble describe what could be the shock wave from the detonation.
• The sun and moon are darkened because the mushroom cloud of the explosions rises into the atmosphere and obscure all light from the sky. Perhaps like the natural effects of the explosion of Krakatoa in 1883, estimated to be as strong as a 200 Megaton nuclear bomb.
• World War III is dreadful, and it is certainly a cause to wonder who, if anyone, will survive it.

Joel 2:12-17 A call to repentance. Despite the sin that led to the calamity, God is still merciful if we repent, individually and/or nationally, even though we ignored earlier warnings. His increasing the volume on the warnings is an act of mercy. As mentioned previously,  since food sources are destroyed, abstaining from food should become a holy fast that turns to the Lord. 

It is important to remember that fasting is not a means of manipulating God or earning favors from Him. The purpose of the fast is to turn our hearts to Him, and purify our hearts from the debris of the world. This enables us to more clearly communicate with and understand Him, and to prepare our hearts to obey what He tells us.

Joel 2:18-20 The Lord was jealous for His peoples’ love, so He spoke in the first person through Joel, promising food and victory over enemies. “I am ….  I will ….”

Joel 2:20-24 The prophet now speaks of great things the Lord has done (in future response to genuine repentance). He will have restored their agriculture.

Joel 2:25-27 The Lord speaks in the first person again. He will repay the years the locusts have eaten, repeating the four categories described earlier as destroying all types of food. (1:4) This will include both physical and spiritual food. “I will…. You will know that I am….” Those who receive this promise will praise the Name of the Lord.

Joel 2:28-32 Continuing in the first person, the Lord says that after this, He will pour out His Spirit on all people. This passage was famously quoted verbatim by Peter on Pentecost. (Acts 2:17-21) It is a direct answer to Moses’ prayer (Numbers 11:29), but goes far beyond to describe what this will look like. Dreams & visions, wonders in nature, visible signs like blood, fire, and smoke (as in the days of Moses), all are part of the lead-in to the day of the Lord. The promise that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved clearly points to the New Testament (Romans 10:13). All people in verse 28 suggests inclusion of gentiles, but the passage wraps up with the survivors on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem. This sounds very apocalyptic, because it is. Peter knew that this set of events was a last-days precursor to the return of the Lord in power to establish His kingdom. 

Joel 3

Joel 3:1-8 God promises that He will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, and retribution in kind to nations who mistreated the Jews. Specifically to those who created the diaspora sending them away from the land of Israel, selling them as slaves. While this might seem to be a judgment on the practice of slavery, in 3:8 He says He will sell the sons and daughters of the nations that did this to His people to the Sabeans. Since modern day Sabeans are nearly extinct, this must refer to some distant nation symbolically, or else to a past event. The Jews have been restored to the land. They do not practice slavery, although they have driven many Palestinians away, to live in refugee camps. It is hard to draw a connection between the people who enslaved Israelites millennia ago and modern day ethnic groups.

Joel 3:9-16 Beating plowshares into swords and pruning hooks into spears is the opposite of the call to peace found elsewhere. (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3) This is a declaration of war. The valley of Jehoshaphat (YHWH judges) will be the seat of judgment for the nations, because evil is ripe and ready for harvest; hence the agricultural implements for harvest are now weapons. Jehoshaphat the king of Israel did not even have to have his army fight because the Lord turned the armies of the invading nations on each other. The army of Judah only found bodies. (2 Chronicles 20:22-26) But the implication of this passage is apocalyptic. The sun and moon darkened (as in 2:10) and the Lord roaring with thunder, heaven and earth trembling, sounds much more like the final judgment. 

God’s voice can be gentle, as is recorded in much of Jesus’ ministry, or it can be terrifying. It depends on whether we receive Him or rebel against Him.  (1 Kings 19;12, Matthew 21:5; Daniel 10:7-9, Revelation 1:17)

Joel 3:17-21 This is the final blessing that will confirm who God is and who His people are. Judah and Jerusalem will be permanently inhabited by Jews and Christians, and innocent blood will be avenged: Egypt and Edom will be permanent deserts. This implies that even the Nile valley and Petra, perhaps even the southern Jordan valley near the Red Sea will be uninhabitable. This blessing will come in the form of the new wine, the Holy Spirit will be everywhere in God’s kingdom. Those who reject Him and do not have the Holy Spirit will live miserable lives in the power of their own human will. As God speaks to unbelievers, it is clear that He turns up the volume on them as He does in speaking to His people, as most of the earlier passages in Joel have described. But the final vindication will be the New Jerusalem.  (Revelation 21:2-4, 11-26)