BOOK OF JOEL - OVERVIEW
Joel is the second of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament.
Author: Joel, meaning “The Lord is God.”
Joel is mentioned by name only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the introduction to that book, as the son of Pethuel (Joel 1:1).
There are no mentions of kings that might help locate its time. However, the book's mention of Judah's suffering and the standing temple.
Joel was originally from Judah/Judea, and, judging from its prominence in his prophecy, was quite possibly a prophet associated with the ritual of either Solomon's or the Second temple, depending on the date when he lived.
Setting of the Book of Joel
The people of Judah had become prosperous and complacent. Taking God for granted, they had turned to self-centeredness, idolatry, and sin. Joel warned them that kind of lifestyle would inevitably bring God's judgment on them.
Format of the book
The Book of Joel is mostly poetic, with very little narrative in Chapter 3.
To whom was the book written and why?
Joel was written to the people of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) who had turned away from God. He prophesied renewal in the land if the people would repent and serve God. If the people did not repent, Joel prophesied a major agricultural disaster.
What to look for in the Book of Joel
Look for God's plan for His people. God promised a specific plan of punishment for sin, but also a promise to defend His people. In both cases, God had a passionate concern for His people.
Why read the Book of Joel?
---1. What Joel prophesied applies to us today.
---2. God had an intense desire for intimacy with all His people.
What the Book of Joel is about
The Book of Joel tells how God wanted intimacy with the people of Judah. However, they sinned against Him. Because no sin can go unpunished, God proclaimed "a day of the Lord." In other words, the cycle was the same in the Book of Hosea.
The cycle: The people sinned. God punished. They repented. God proclaimed a blessing.
Two-fold Purpose of Joel
---1. To warn Judah of God's impending judgment because of their sin.
---2. To urge Judah to turn back to God.
Key Verses:
---1. 2:12-13 for Judah and for us today
---2. 2:25 - “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.”
Keywords:
---1. "the day of the Lord" found five times (1:15; 2:1; 2:11; 2:31; 3:14)
---2. "the great and terrible Day of the Lord"
Throughout the Book of Joel, the descriptive word "great" doesn't mean something good or above good quality. Example: The word "great" describes the terrible day of the Lord.
The word great also applies to the locusts that were great in number, meaning "many" as in an army of locusts. Notice that when you read about the day of the Lord and the locusts.
Joel wrote his book during a tragic period in Judah’s history. Locusts had attacked the land, leaving destruction in their wake.
The Book of Joel can be divided into two parts.
---1. The first part encompasses chapters 1 and 2a. Using the locust attack as a metaphor, Joel writes of an impending human attack and emphasizes the need for repentance.
---2. In the second part, the focus shifts to a promise of restoration and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Joel prophecy came to pass on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 while Peter was preaching.
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:16–18).
Themes:
Throughout the book of Joel, the theme of disaster is prevalent. Looking back at the economic hardship brought on by the locust plague was intended to encourage the people to look forward to the great and terrible Day of the Lord, a phrase mentioned nineteen times by eight different Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi, and Joel.
The Book of Joel explores themes like God’s wrath and judgment (the Day of the Lord), repentance, and restoration.
---1. Punishment for sin if no repentance
---2. Forgiveness granted for repentance
---3. Promise of the Holy Spirit
Prophetic object lesson
Joel uses the locust plague to teach a prophetic lesson. Speaking to the elders of Judah, Joel calls all members of society to take seriously the current locust plague. Because as bad as this calamity was, it was nothing in comparison to what was to come from God if the people did not repent and turn back to Him.
Reminder
Remember, Hosea's object lesson was marrying Gomer, a prostitute whose lifestyle was symbolic of Israel's sin.
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