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JOEL (meaning "one to whom Jehovah is God," that is, worshipper of Jehovah) seems to have belonged to Judah, as no reference occurs to Israel; whereas he speaks of Jerusalem, the temple, the priests, and the ceremonies, as if he were intimately familiar with them (compare Joe 1:14 2:1,15,32 3:1,2,6,16,17,20,21). His predictions were probably delivered in the early days of Joash 870-865 B.C.; for no reference is made in them to the Babylonian, Assyrian, or even the Syrian invasion; and the only enemies mentioned are the Philistines, Phoenicians, Edomites, and Egyptians (Joe 3:4,19). Had he lived after Joash, he would doubtless have mentioned the Syrians among the enemies whom he enumerates since they took Jerusalem and carried off immense spoil to Damascus (2Ch 24:23,24). No idolatry is mentioned; and the temple services, the priesthood, and other institutions of the theocracy, are represented as flourishing. This all answers to the state of things under the high priesthood of Jehoiada, through whom Joash had been placed on the throne and who lived in the early years of Joash (2Ki 11:17,18 12:2-16 2Ch 24.4-14). He was the son of Pethuel.
The first chapter describes the desolation caused by an inroad of locusts--one of the instruments of divine judgment mentioned by Moses (De 28:38,39) and by Solomon (1Ki 8:37). The second chapter (Joe 2:1-11): the appearance of them, under images of a hostile army suggesting that the locusts were symbols and forerunners of a more terrible scourge, namely, foreign enemies who would consume all before them. (The absence of mention of personal injury to the inhabitants is not a just objection to the figurative interpretation; for the figure is consistent throughout in attributing to the locusts only injury to vegetation, thereby injuring indirectly man and beast). Joe 2:12-17: exhortation to repentance, the result of which will be: God will deliver His people, the former and latter rains shall return to fertilize their desolated lands, and these shall be the pledge of the spiritual outpouring of grace beginning with Judah, and thence extending to "all flesh." Joe 2:18-3:21: God's judgments on Judah's enemies, whereas Judah shall be established for ever.
Joel's style is pre-eminently pure. It is characterized by smoothness and fluency in the rhythms, roundness in the sentences, and regularity in the parallelisms. With the strength of Micah it combines the tenderness of Jeremiah, the vividness of Nahum, and the sublimity of Isaiah. As a specimen of his style take the second chapter wherein the terrible aspect of the locusts, their rapidity, irresistible progress, noisy din, and instinct-taught power of marshalling their forces for their career of devastation, are painted with graphic reality.
I. Introduction.
A. The man.
1. Joel is obscure and little known.
a. He lived in Jerusalem.
b. He may have been a priest.
2. He was clear, direct and courageous.
a. A preacher of repentance.
b. Ranks high among the prophets.
B. The background.
1. Lived before the kingdom of Israel was divided.
2. Locusts invaded the land and destroyed the crops.
a. Locusts come during a drought.
b. The land suffered from famine.
c. Locusts consumed the crops.
d. The people suffered.
II. The Book.
A. Chapter one.
1. Joel spoke the word of Jehovah (v. 1).
2. Describes terrible conditions (vv. 2-4).
3. The devastation caused by the locusts (vv. 5-7).
a. Many were drunkards.
b. The locusts destroyed everything.
4. The conditions were insupportable (vv. 8-12).
5. A call for repentance and a national assembly (vv. 13-14).
6. A judgment of God (vv. 15-20).
B. Chapter two.
1. The drought, famine and invasion of locusts pointed to a
coming time when the nation would be destroyed by a
foreign invader (vv. 1-3).
a. This anticipates a division of the kingdom.
b. It points to a time when Israel would be ravaged by a
powerful foe.
c. It may also forecast the desolation of Judah.
2. The coming, but far off invasion, is irresistible (vs. 4-11).
3. Jehovah can and will save and bring future blessings
(vv. 12-14).
4. A call for national repentance (vv. 15-17).
5. Jehovah will answer with kindness (vv.18-20).
6. The prophet speaks of abundant blessings to come
(vv. 21-27).
7. Joel looks to the distant future and prophesies the spiritual
advantage of Messiah's coming kingdom (vv. 28-32). (Note:
this is the beginning of chapter three in the Hebrew Bible.)
a. This is quoted in the New Testament (Acts 2:16-21).
b. Fallings stars, darkened sun and moon, wonders and signs
are prophetic language describing the end of a nation or
economic order.
c. An early Jewish catastrophe and promised relief are used
to forecast the kingdom of Messiah.
C. Chapter three.
1. Opposition to God will result in final condemnation
(vv. 1-8).
a. The prophet speaks of Jerusalem and Judah by which he
means the covenant people of God (under Messiah this is
the church).
b. The valley of Jehosaphat means the time of judgment. The
word "Jehosaphat" means "Jehovah is judge."
2. Joel explains this refers to the ultimate end of all created
things (vv. 9-13).
3. The prophet speaks again of terrible destruction by which he
forecasts the end of the world (vv. 14-17).
4. Indescribable joy and happiness for the people of God will
follow (vv. 18-20).
He probably flourished in the reign of Uzziah (about B.C. 800), and was contemporary with Amos and Isaiah.
The contents of this book are, (1.) A prophecy of a great public calamity then impending over the land, consisting of a want of water and an extraordinary plague of locusts (1:1-2:11). (2.) The prophet then calls on his countrymen to repent and to turn to God, assuring them of his readiness to forgive (2:12-17), and foretelling the restoration of the land to its accustomed fruitfulness (18-26). (3.) Then follows a Messianic prophecy, quoted by Peter (Acts 2:39). (4.) Finally, the prophet foretells portents and judgments as destined to fall on the enemies of God (ch. 3, but in the Hebrew text 4).