Bible Survey ~ Joel

Bible Survey: Joel 

KEY VERSE: Joel 2:12-13

“Even now ~ this is the LORD”s declaration 

~ turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 

Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, 

And return to the LORD your God.

For He is gracious and compassionate, 

Slow to anger, 

Abounding in faithful love.” 

Interesting note: on the day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed that the new day of a Spirit filled life ~ foretold by the prophet Joel ~ had arrived (Acts 2:17-21) 

Each prophet had his own unique approach to the special God given message

Joel was commissioned by God to call the people BACK to the worship of the one and only true God ~ and Joel did this by declaring the “WORD of the LORD” (1:1; Jeremiah 1:2; Ezekiel 1:3) 

Hosea’s message was an application of his sad domestic troubles and trials ~ pointing to God’s jealous love

Joel’s message was a warning of national calamity ~ plagues of locusts and a drought ~ and pointed to God’s wonderful kingdom that was to come 

Joel may have been the first of the “writing” prophets ~ he served in Judah during the reign of King Josh’s (835-796 BC)

You find the record in 2 Kings 11-12 and 2 Chronicles 22-24 

It was the task of the PRIESTS to TEACH the people God’s Law  

It was the task of the PROPHETS to CALL the people back to the LORD when they strayed from God’s Law 

Prophets also interpreted historical events ~ in the Light of God’s Word ~ to help the people understand God’s Will for their lives 

Joel wanted the people to understand WHAT God was saying to them through the plague and the drought. 

In our times ~ the nations of the world are experiencing severe disasters and economic unrest ~ all of which impacts the national and global economies ~ yet very few have asked ~ “What is God saying to us?”  

Joel wrote his book so the people would KNOW what God was saying through these critical events 

Josh became King at the age of 7 and Jehoiada the priest was his mentor

This may explain why Joel says nothing about the King ~ since Joash was a child ~ learning the job

Joel’s major theme is “the day of the Lord” ~ and the need for God’s people to be prepared 

The day of the Lord is used in Scripture to refer to different periods of time ~ when God sent judgment to His people ~ but the main emphasis is on the FUTURE “day of the Lord” ~ when all nations will be judged and Jesus will return to set up His Throne 

Joel refers to 3 important evens ~ each of which he calls the “day of the Lord” 

Joel sees (1) the plague of locusts as an immediate day of the Lord (1:1-20) (2) the invasion of Judah by Assyria as an imminent day of the Lord (2:1-27) also read Isaiah 36-37; 2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chronicles 32,  (3) the final judgment of the world as the ultimate day of the Lord (2:28-3:21) 

NOTE: Watching the Day of the LORD ~ Joel 1 – 2:27

            Expecting the Day of the LORD ~ Joel 2:28-3:31 

A wise pastor will get people’s attention by referring to something they are all concerned about. 

In this case ~ the people of Judah were talking about the economic crisis ~ so the LORD led Joel to use this as an event that got their attention for his Message from God. 

The people didn’t realize it ~ but they were watching the “Day of the LORD’ unfold before their eyes ~ and the prophet Joel was there to explain it to them 

First 2 Warnings 

When you are in a crisis ~ you will hear all kinds of voices interpreting what is going on and why it is happening 

Optimists preach that the trouble will not last and to be brave

Pessimists will week and proclaim that the sky is falling 

Alarmists will see the enemy behind every tree 

Scoffers will question the news and shrug asking if it really makes any difference 

Joel was a REALIST who looked at life from the standpoint of the Word of God 

Joel ADDRESSED 5 groups of people and gave them 4 warnings from God 

GROUP #1: Elders and Citizens (1:2-4) 

Joel addressed the old men first because they had experience and were respected ~ so they could validate what he was saying ~ with their support ~ he was not someone to be ignored; they agreed with Joel that the nation was facing a catastrophe of major proportions

GROUP #2: “drunkards: awake up and weep” (1:5-7) 

Except for pointing out the insincerity of religious worshippers in 2:12-13 ~ drunk is the ONLY sin that Joel names in his book 

This was a serious sin that many of the prophets condemned (Hosea 7:5 & Amos 4:1) 

Drunkards represented all the careless people in the land whose only interest was sinful pleasure 

These people had a good reason to weep because there was no more wine and wouldn’t be any more until next season ~ if there was a next season. 

WHY? Because of the locusts and drought (1:10-12) 

REMEMBER: bread and wine were the basic staples of the Jewish diet ~ so that even the people who did NOT get drunk ~ were affected by the loss 

GROUP #3: farmers “despair and wail” (1:8-12) 

Joel named some of the crops that that been ruined 

From season to season ~ the locusts ate whatever was produced ~ and the drought kept the soil from producing anything more 

1:18-20 Joel points out that the flocks and herds and their pastures were impacted by the locusts 

All the farmers could do was express their grief in the hopeless situation 

GROUP #4: priests “call a fast” (1:13-20) 

The temple was also in need ~ nobody could bring proper sacrifices because no meal, wine, or animals were left 

Joel called the priests to grieve and pray (Psalm 134:1) even those on the night shift 

The Jews were required to observe only 1 fast ~ and that was on the day of Atonement (Leviticus.16:29–31) 

But the religious leaders could call a fast whenever the people faced an emergency and needed to HUMBLE themselves and seek God’s face 

(Judges 20:26; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Nehemiah 9:1-3; Jeremiah 36:9) 

Joel 1:15-18 is the grief of a nation ~ and 1:19-20 ~ is the prayer of the prophet ~ as he interceded for the nation before God Almighty 

The Grief is a vivid description of the sad condition of the land ~ the crops ~ the flocks ~ the herds ~ for the “day of the LORD” had finally come 

The immediate reference is to the assault of locusts and the devastating affects of the drought 

REMEMBER: God is the LORD of creation ~ and without HIS blessing ~ nature cannot produce what we need to sustain life (Psalm 65; 104:10-21; 145:15) 

We must NEVER pray lightly, “Give us this day our daily bread” ~ for ONLY God can sustain life (Acts 17:25-28) 

1:18 “How the cattle moan” ~ reminds us that all creation “groans and labors” because of the impact of sin (Romans 8:18-22 & Genesis 3:17-19) 

Creation longs for the day when the Creator will return to earth and set it free from sin’s bondage

Then and only then will the wilderness and solitary places be glad and the desert rejoice and bloom like the rose (Isaiah 35:1) 

NOTICE: it was not enough for the people to just grieve ~ they also had to PRAY

This is what God REQUIRED (2 Chronicles 6:26-27 & 7:12-15 & Deuteronomy 28:23-24) 

Joel didn’t ask God for anything ~ he simply told the LORD of the suffering of the land, the animals and the people

Joel KNEW that God would do WHAT WAS RIGHT 

God did NOT have to send great armies to bring Judah to their knees ~ all HE needed was a swarm of little insects ~ and they did the job 

PART 2: the IMMINENT Day of the LORD (2:1-27) 

Now God had their attention ~ Joel told the people to STOP looking around at the locusts ~ and start looking AHEAD ~ at the fulfillment of what the locust plague SYMBOLIZED ~ 2:20 

Joel was referring to the Assyrian invasion ~ during the reign of King Hezekiah in 701 BC (Isaiah 36:37) 

God allowed the Assyrians to ravage the land ~ but he delivered Jerusalem 

Joel gave 3 INSTRUCTIONS

#1: blow the trumpet (2:1-11) 

The was a war ~ and Joel commanded the watchmen to blow their trumpets to WARN the people 

The Jews used trumpets to (a) call assemblies; (b) announce special events; (c) proclaim religious festivals; (d) warn the people that war had been declared 

In this case ~ they blew the trumpet to announce war AND to call a national fast (2:!5) 

The weapons against the invading army would be REPENTANCE and PRAYER ~ because the LORD would fight for them 

#2: rend your hearts (2:12-17) 

Joel called a national time of repentance and fasting to seek God’s face

No one knew WHEN the invasion would take place ~ so the important thing was for them to turn back to the LORD NOW ~ but they must be sincere 

It’s easy to participate in a a religious ceremony ~ tear your garments ~ and grieve ~ but it is another thing to HUMBLY confess your sins and bring to God a REPENTANT heart (Matthew 15:8-9) 

Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart ~ these, O God, You will not despise” 

The greatest motivator that turns our heart into repentance and confession is ~ the CHARACTER of GOD

Knowing that God is “gracious and compassion ate, slow to anger, and abounding in love” (Joel 2:13) ~ MUST motivate us to seek God’s face 

READ: Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 145:8 and Jonah 4:2 

NOTE: Joel’s concern was that the people would once again have offerings to bring to the LORD ~ not just food on their tables 

#3: believe His promises (2:18-27) 

Joel looked PAST the invasion ~ to the time when God would HEAL the land and RESORE His blessing to HIS people 

READ: Isaiah 37:36-38 

It is possible that Psalm 126 came from this event ~ because it describes a sudden and surprising deliverance ~ Joel 2:21-27 & Psalm 126:5-6 & Isaiah 37:30 

EXPECTING the Day of the LORD (2:28-3:21) 

Joel’s message to Judah (and to us) is reaching its conclusion 

Joel described the immediate day of the LORD ~ locusts and drought 

And the impending invasion of the Assyrian army from the north 

Now all that is left is for him to preach the ULTIMATE day of the LORD ~ when God calls all nations of the earth into judgement (Obadiah 15) 

Joel describes a sequence of events relating to this great and terrible day of the LORD (2:31) and what will happen BEFORE ~ DURING and AFTER that day

2:28-32 BEFORE that Day: God’s Spirit is poured out 

In the Hebrew Scriptures ~ these verses make up a whole chapter themselves ~ they are considered that important 

The Jewish context 

AFTERWARD (2:28) refers to the events described in 2:18-27 when the LORD heals the nation after the Assyrian invasion 

However it does NOT mean immediately afterward ~ for many centuries passed before God’s Spirit was poured out  (Acts 2:17) 

“The Last days” be an with the ministry of Jesus on earth (Hebrews 1:2) and will conclude with the Day of the LORD ~ Matthew 24:21-29 ~ worldwide judgement that is also called THE TRIBULATION PERIOD ~ and the time of Jacobs trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) 

Some believe this prophecy is detailed in Revelation 6-19 ~ ending with the return of Jesus to earth to deliver Israel ~ and establish His Kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-5; Zechariah 12-14; Revelation 19:11-20:6) 

Joel promised that before the “day of the LORD” ~ there will be 3 remarkable demonstrations from God’s Spirit ~ accompanied by signs in the heavens and on earth 

In the Old Testament ~ God’s Spirit was ONLY given to special people ~ who had special jobs to do ~ like Moses (Numbers 11:17; the judges (Judges 3:10 & 6:34 & 11:29); and great men like David (1 Samuel 16:13)

But the promise God gave Joel ~ declared that God’s Spirit would come upon “all flesh” ~ men and women alike ~ and all who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved (Joel 2:32 & Acts 2:39) 

Day of Judgment (3:1-16)

Israel’s situation in the world will be dramatically changed ~ and God will deal justly with the nations of the earth for the way they have treated HIS people 

Joel gives 3 important announcements 

#1: Nations, prepare for judgement (3:1-8) 

The great battle will take place in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (3:2 & 3:12) ~ a site mentioned no where else in Scripture 

3:14 it is called “the valley of decision” ~ referring to God’s decision to punish the nations 

Jehoshaphat means “the LORD judges” ~ some scholars believe this refers to the Plain of Esdraelon where the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) will be fought 

Joel lists some of the sins the Gentiles have committed against the Jews (a) scattering them among the nations; selling them into slavery; treating them like cheap merchandise that people cast lots for; plundering the land of its wealth; taking what belonged to the LORD and using it for their own “gods”

Of course, many of the tragic experiences that the Jewish people suffered ~ was a disciple from God because they violated HIS WORD 

Jeremiah said to the Babylonians “You rejoice and are glad, you who pillage my inheritance, because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain and nigh like stallions” Jeremiah 50:11 NIV 

NOTE: God refers to the Jews as “my people” and the land as “my land”

Even though the Jews have abandoned God ~ HE has not abandoned his people 

#2:  Nations, prepare for war (3:9-15) 

This describes the battle of Armageddon when the armies of the earth will unite against the LORDE and Jesus and gather to destroy Jerusalem (Joel 3:16 & Zechariah 12-14 & Revelation 14:14-20) 

Frightening signs from the LORD will accompany this battle (Joel 3:15) signs that Jesus mentioned on His sermon on the mount (Matthew 24:29-31 & Mark 13:19-27 & Luke 21:25-28) 

Jesus taught that these signs would prepare the way for His personal coming to earth ~ when he will defeat Israel’s enemies ~ cleanse HIS people ~ and establish His kingdom (Zechariah 12-14 & Revelation 19:11) 

#3: Nations, prepare for defeat (3:16) 

The name “Armageddon” is only found in Revelation 16:16 

And that is referring to the Plain of Esdraelon where many major Old Testament battles were fought

Revelation 16:13-16 teaches that Satan and his demons will gather the armies of the earth to fight against God at Jerusalem 

But this invasion will fail ~ because Jesus will return in full power and slaughter HIS enemies ~ turning the whole battle into a feast for the scavengers of the earth (19:17-19) 

Like a fierce lion ~ God will roar out of Zion and conquer the enemy (Amos 1:2 & Hosea 11:10-11) 

When the Lamb becomes the Lion ~ the nations will tremble (Revelation 5:5) 

The unbelieving nations of the earth will perish when HE proclaims judgement ~ but HIS people will take refuge in HIS stronghold (Isaiah 26:20-21) 

After that Day: God pours our blessings (3:17-21) 

Everything on earth changes when the King returns and reigns

Joel promised a Holy City ~ a restored land ~ a cleansed people ~ and a perfect King 

#1: A Holy City (3:17) 

When Solomon dedicated God’s temple ~ the glory of the LORD came down and filled the building (1 Kings 8:10-11 & 2 Chronicles 5:11-14) 

Mount Zion ~ where Jerusalem was built and the temple stood ~ was a very special place to the Jews ~ because it was the place God chose for HIS dwelling (Psalm 48:87 & Psalm 132:13) 

When the Babylonians destroyed the temple ~ the Jews prayed for the time when their temple would be restored ~ and God’s glory would return (Psalm 69:35) 

Today ~ the Jews have no temple on Mount Zion ~ instead a mosque stands there 

But God promises that HE will restore Zion and dwell there in all HIS glory (Isaiah 51:3 & 11; Isaiah 12; Isaiah 33:20-24 & 35 & 52; Jeremiah 31; Micah 4; Zechariah 1) 

Jerusalem is referred to as “the Holy City” at least 8 times in Scripture (Nehemiah 11:1; Isaiah 48:2; Isaiah 52:1; Daniel 9:24; Matthew 4:5; Revelation 11:2) 

#2: A restored land (3:18-19) 

Over the centuries ~ the land of Israel has been ravaged by wars, famine, drought, and invasions of insects but there is coming a day when the land will be the Garden of Eden in Genesis ~ known for its beauty and fruitfulness (Isaiah 51:3) 

In Joel chapter 1 ~ the people were wailing because they had no food ~ but the food will not come until God restores His people and land 

Israel has always depended on the early and late rains for water ~ but God will give them fountains and rivers of waters to heal the land

Jerusalem is the only ancient city not built near a great river

Someday Jerusalem will have a great reviver that flows from the temple of God (Zechariah 14:8 & Ezekiel 47) 

To contrast ~ Egypt and Edom will be desolate as punishment for the way they treated God’s people 

That means Egypt and Edom will have to depend on Israel for the basic things of life ~ such as food and water 

#3: A cleansed people (3:20-21) 

What good would it be to have a restored land if it were populated by a sinful people? 

God’s people must be cleansed of their sins ~ forgiven ~ and restored ~ before they can enter into the land God promised them (Zechariah 13:1) 

Ezekiel 36:24-27 describes the cleansing 

Under Old Testament law ~ the Jews could cleanse whatever was defiled by using water, fire, or blood. 

The priests were washed with water and sprinkled with blood when they were appointed into office (Leviticus 9-9) 

Healed lepers were also washed with water and sprinkled with blood (Leviticus 14)

The priests had to wash their hands and feet and keep ceremonially clean as they served in the tabernacle (Exodus 30:17-21) 

If anything became defiled ~ it had to be purified with the “water of sprinkling” Numbers 19)

Zechariah used this Old Testament teaching about the permanent internal cleansing that would come when the people saw their Messiah and trusted HIM (Zechariah 12:10) 

#4: A wonderful King (3:21)

Joel had a wonderful closing to his book.  

“The LORD dwells in Zion!” 

Ezekiel watched as the glory of God departed from the temple before it was destroyed (Ezekiel 8:4; 9:3; 10:4; 10:18; 11:23) 

And Ezekiel saw God’s glory return to the new temple ~ in the restored nation (Ezekiel 43:1-5) 

Ezekiel saw a new Jerusalem that had been given a new name ~ “Jehovah Shammah” (literally “the LORD is there”) Ezekiel 48:30-35

The prophecy of Joel begins with tragedy ~ the invasion of locusts but closes in triumph ~ the reign of the King of Kings and LORD of LORDS (Matthew 19:28) 

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our LORD and of His Christ, and HE will reign for ever and ever” Revelation 11:5 NIV