The Book of
JOEL
Author: Joel
Date: Probably 835–805 B.C.
Theme: The Judgment and Grace of God
Key Words: Great and Awesome Day of the Lord
Author. The name “Joel” means literally, “Yahweh Is God.” This is a very common name in Israel, and Joel the prophet is specified as the son of Pethuel. Nothing is known about him or his life circumstances. It is likely that he lived in Judah and prophesied in Jerusalem.
Date. There is no way to date the book with absolute certainty, and scholars vary in their opinions. There are references in both Amos and Isaiah, which are also in Joel. (Compare Amos 1:2 with Joel 3:16 and Is. 13:6 with Joel 1:15.) It is the opinion of most conservatives that Amos and Isaiah borrowed from Joel, making him one of the very earliest of the minor prophets.
Furthermore, the worship of God, which the high priest Jehoiada restored during the reign of Joash (2 Kin. 11; 2 Chr. 23:16), is assumed by Joel. Therefore, many hold that Joel prophesied during the first thirty years of the reign of Joash (835–796 B.C.) when Jehoiada was the king’s adviser. This would place Joel’s ministry around 835–805 B.C.
Background. Joel prophesied at a time of great devastation to the entire land of Judah. An enormous plague of locusts had denuded the countryside of all vegetation, destroyed the pastures of both the sheep and the cattle, even stripped the bark off the fig trees. In only a few hours what was once a beautiful, verdant land had become a place of desolation and destruction. Contemporary descriptions of the destructive power of swarms of locusts corroborate Joel’s picture of the plague in his time.
The plague of locusts Joel wrote about was greater than anyone had ever seen. All crops were lost and the seed crops for the next planting were destroyed. A famine and drought had seized the entire land. Both people and animals were dying. It was so profound and disastrous that Joel saw only one explanation; it was the judgment of God.
Content. The Book of Joel is naturally divided into two sections. The first (1:1–2:27) deals with the present judgment of God, a call to repentance, and a promise of restoration.
In Moses’ sermon to Israel (Deut. 28:38–46) he warned that, if the nation was disobedient, “Locusts shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land.” The prophet sees that just such a day has come. He graphically describes the horrible armies of locusts in prophetic and poetic language. Four waves of these armylike creatures have consumed everything. Drinkers have no wine. The priests have nothing to offer in sacrifice to God. Farmers and vinedressers have nothing to care for. There is no part of Judah’s life that has not been dramatically and tragically affected.
The second section (2:8–3:21) explains that this plague, horrible as it may be, is nothing compared to the judgment of God that is coming. This will be a time when not only Judah, but all the nations of the world, will be called before God. It will be a time when the sounds of locusts will be muted as “the LORD also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake” (3:16).
Terrifying heavenly portents will take place. “The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood” (2:31). This will be none other than “the great and awesome day of the LORD” (2:31).
However, we must not overlook the most remarkable section of this short prophecy. Through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Joel looks hundreds of years ahead to a time when God will pour out His Spirit “on all flesh” (2:28). This will be a prelude to the devastation and judgment of the Day of the Lord. It will be a time when all believers will experience the indwelling of the Spirit of God and will form a prophetic community on Earth. It will be a time when prophecy will come from young and old alike; when both men and women will prophesy. Salvation will not just be the unique blessing on Judah. It will be a time when “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (2:32).
Personal Application. Joel prophesies the inauguration of the age of the church—a time when all people everywhere can call on the name of the Lord, be saved from their sins, and become participants in the kingdom of God. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the church becomes the body of Christ in the world. The redemptive purposes of God are therefore extended and made available through every Spirit-filled believer.
This is the time in which we now live. Ours is the wonderful privilege of not only experiencing salvation ourselves, but also of being those who bring the Good News to all who will listen. What Joel was to ravaged Judah, the church is to a ravaged world; namely, a prophetic voice, bringing God’s viewpoint into clear focus, calling for repentance, and extending the hope of salvation from the final and terrible Day of the Lord.
The message of Joel is concise and clear: “If you think the plague of locusts is bad, wait until you see the final judgment of the Lord.” But, as every true prophet of God, Joel does not stop with the prediction of doomsday. He clearly announces the day of God’s grace.
Christ Revealed. Joel looked forward to a time when the Lord would bring judgment to the enemies of God and of Israel, when the nations would be called to give account for their actions. He also saw a day of great plenty flowing from the righteous reign of the Lord in Zion. The instrument through which these great events would come was the Messiah. Jesus is the One who will bring this age to a close, defeating His enemies, rewarding His church, and setting up His final kingdom of righteousness.
Furthermore, it is Jesus who promises the coming of the Spirit in response to His finished work of redemption and return to the Father (John 14:15–18; 16:5–24). In the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost we have the spiritual return of Christ to indwell His people and direct His body, the church. His literal and physical return is foretold here in Joel.
The Holy Spirit at Work. Joel is remarkable in his references to the Holy Spirit. It is obviously the Holy Spirit who has inspired the prophet to see God’s hand in all that is taking place and to be able to leap forward to the terrible Day of the Lord.
But the most astounding passage in Joel is 2:28–32. Here the prophet sees a time in the future, “afterward,” when the Spirit of God will be poured out “on all flesh.” Young and old alike, both women and men, will experience this outpouring. This section of Scripture hangs suspended for nearly eight hundred years. Though the Spirit had come upon prophets and priests, never had there been such a general outpouring of the Spirit. Then, on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit came with such power and force that it captured the attention of the masses gathered in Jerusalem for the festival. Peter takes hold of this prophetic section and declares, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16). A new age is born, the church is empowered, and now “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study
JOEL
Author: Joel
Date: Probably 835–805 B.C.
Theme: The Judgment and Grace of God
Key Words: Great and Awesome Day of the Lord
Author. The name “Joel” means literally, “Yahweh Is God.” This is a very common name in Israel, and Joel the prophet is specified as the son of Pethuel. Nothing is known about him or his life circumstances. It is likely that he lived in Judah and prophesied in Jerusalem.
Date. There is no way to date the book with absolute certainty, and scholars vary in their opinions. There are references in both Amos and Isaiah, which are also in Joel. (Compare Amos 1:2 with Joel 3:16 and Is. 13:6 with Joel 1:15.) It is the opinion of most conservatives that Amos and Isaiah borrowed from Joel, making him one of the very earliest of the minor prophets.
Furthermore, the worship of God, which the high priest Jehoiada restored during the reign of Joash (2 Kin. 11; 2 Chr. 23:16), is assumed by Joel. Therefore, many hold that Joel prophesied during the first thirty years of the reign of Joash (835–796 B.C.) when Jehoiada was the king’s adviser. This would place Joel’s ministry around 835–805 B.C.
Background. Joel prophesied at a time of great devastation to the entire land of Judah. An enormous plague of locusts had denuded the countryside of all vegetation, destroyed the pastures of both the sheep and the cattle, even stripped the bark off the fig trees. In only a few hours what was once a beautiful, verdant land had become a place of desolation and destruction. Contemporary descriptions of the destructive power of swarms of locusts corroborate Joel’s picture of the plague in his time.
The plague of locusts Joel wrote about was greater than anyone had ever seen. All crops were lost and the seed crops for the next planting were destroyed. A famine and drought had seized the entire land. Both people and animals were dying. It was so profound and disastrous that Joel saw only one explanation; it was the judgment of God.
Content. The Book of Joel is naturally divided into two sections. The first (1:1–2:27) deals with the present judgment of God, a call to repentance, and a promise of restoration.
In Moses’ sermon to Israel (Deut. 28:38–46) he warned that, if the nation was disobedient, “Locusts shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land.” The prophet sees that just such a day has come. He graphically describes the horrible armies of locusts in prophetic and poetic language. Four waves of these armylike creatures have consumed everything. Drinkers have no wine. The priests have nothing to offer in sacrifice to God. Farmers and vinedressers have nothing to care for. There is no part of Judah’s life that has not been dramatically and tragically affected.
The second section (2:8–3:21) explains that this plague, horrible as it may be, is nothing compared to the judgment of God that is coming. This will be a time when not only Judah, but all the nations of the world, will be called before God. It will be a time when the sounds of locusts will be muted as “the LORD also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake” (3:16).
Terrifying heavenly portents will take place. “The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood” (2:31). This will be none other than “the great and awesome day of the LORD” (2:31).
However, we must not overlook the most remarkable section of this short prophecy. Through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Joel looks hundreds of years ahead to a time when God will pour out His Spirit “on all flesh” (2:28). This will be a prelude to the devastation and judgment of the Day of the Lord. It will be a time when all believers will experience the indwelling of the Spirit of God and will form a prophetic community on Earth. It will be a time when prophecy will come from young and old alike; when both men and women will prophesy. Salvation will not just be the unique blessing on Judah. It will be a time when “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (2:32).
Personal Application. Joel prophesies the inauguration of the age of the church—a time when all people everywhere can call on the name of the Lord, be saved from their sins, and become participants in the kingdom of God. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the church becomes the body of Christ in the world. The redemptive purposes of God are therefore extended and made available through every Spirit-filled believer.
This is the time in which we now live. Ours is the wonderful privilege of not only experiencing salvation ourselves, but also of being those who bring the Good News to all who will listen. What Joel was to ravaged Judah, the church is to a ravaged world; namely, a prophetic voice, bringing God’s viewpoint into clear focus, calling for repentance, and extending the hope of salvation from the final and terrible Day of the Lord.
The message of Joel is concise and clear: “If you think the plague of locusts is bad, wait until you see the final judgment of the Lord.” But, as every true prophet of God, Joel does not stop with the prediction of doomsday. He clearly announces the day of God’s grace.
Christ Revealed. Joel looked forward to a time when the Lord would bring judgment to the enemies of God and of Israel, when the nations would be called to give account for their actions. He also saw a day of great plenty flowing from the righteous reign of the Lord in Zion. The instrument through which these great events would come was the Messiah. Jesus is the One who will bring this age to a close, defeating His enemies, rewarding His church, and setting up His final kingdom of righteousness.
Furthermore, it is Jesus who promises the coming of the Spirit in response to His finished work of redemption and return to the Father (John 14:15–18; 16:5–24). In the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost we have the spiritual return of Christ to indwell His people and direct His body, the church. His literal and physical return is foretold here in Joel.
The Holy Spirit at Work. Joel is remarkable in his references to the Holy Spirit. It is obviously the Holy Spirit who has inspired the prophet to see God’s hand in all that is taking place and to be able to leap forward to the terrible Day of the Lord.
But the most astounding passage in Joel is 2:28–32. Here the prophet sees a time in the future, “afterward,” when the Spirit of God will be poured out “on all flesh.” Young and old alike, both women and men, will experience this outpouring. This section of Scripture hangs suspended for nearly eight hundred years. Though the Spirit had come upon prophets and priests, never had there been such a general outpouring of the Spirit. Then, on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit came with such power and force that it captured the attention of the masses gathered in Jerusalem for the festival. Peter takes hold of this prophetic section and declares, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16). A new age is born, the church is empowered, and now “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study
