The Prophecy Of (
God’s (
SLIDE 25 Like Obadiah, the Scripture does not give us very much information about the prophet Joel. There were 13 other men named “Joel” in the Old Testament. Of this Joel, whose name means (
SLIDE 26 VIDEO
Date
This prophecy, like the one from Obadiah, is difficult to date. Therefore, whatever date is chosen must be done so with the admission that it cannot be taken absolutely. The two most popular dates are an early one (835-830 B.C.) and a later one, sometime after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem (539-536 B.C.). The date we will use for this study is the early one, sometime around 830 B.C. Joel does not mention Babylon, Assyria, nor Syria. As of this early date, they had not yet risen as adversaries to Judah.
READ Most conservative Biblical scholars believe Joel prophesied during the days when young Joash ruled as a boy king (835-796 B.C.) under the tutelage of the priest Jehoiada (2 Chron. 23-24). While we do not read of any references to a king, we do see the prophet making mention of elders and priests (1:14; 2:16-17). This may be referring to the influence of Jehoiada upon Judah’s throne.
Joel mentions Egypt, Edom, Philistia, and Phoenicia as the adversaries to God’s people (3:4, 19). During the days of Rehoboam, Egypt had invaded Judah (1 Kings 14:25-28). Both Edom and Philistia fought against Judah during the reign of Jehoram (2 Kings 8:20-22).
SLIDE 27 The fact that we cannot be exactly certain about a date for this prophecy in no way takes away from our ability to (
The Main Messages Of The Prophecy
SLIDE 28 The very essence of Joel’s message can be summed up in one word: (
Joel mentions an invading army of locusts (1:4). Some have taken this as figurative, standing for an invading human army sent by God to punish Judah. Others understand this was a literal swarming invasion of locusts sent by God. One only has to read Deut. 28:38-42 to know that God did indeed send the devouring insects as judgment for sin. We take the position that they were literal locusts sent by God to punish a rebellious people. Whether the locusts were real or representative of an invading human army, the point is clear: they were from God. They were causing immense devastation in Judah. Only the people’s repentance would send them away and avert an even stronger, more severe judgment: “the day of the Lord” (2:1-17).
The other main message of Joel’s prophecy is (
Major Outline Of The Prophecy
SLIDE 29 The prophecy of Joel falls into 2 distinct sections. Here is a look at what is taught in these 2 sections:
1:1 - 2:17
In this section, the prophet Joel is the spokesman. He foretells of the coming doom of God’s judgment in the form of the locust invasion, and uses this as his call for the people’s repentance. What God desires is not merely an (
2:18 - 3:21
In this section, Jehovah God is the spokesman. He reassures His children that though they must be punished for their sins, there will come future blessings. These blessings will take 3 different forms: 1) a return of (
A more detailed outline for Joel’s prophecy follows:
Outline Of Joel’’s Prophecy
The harbinger of the day of Jehovah: the judgment of God and the prophet’s call to repentance [the prophet speaks (1:2-2:17)]
Devastation of Judah: scourge of locusts, drought, and fire (1:2-20)
Graphic description of the locust scourge (2-4)
Call to various classes to mourn, or repent (5-14)
The awful calamity: “day of Jehovah” — prayer for mercy (15-20)
B. A more urgent summons to repentance and prayer: the scourge is a forerunner of the day of judgment (2:1-17)
The urgent summons (1-11)
The trumpet of warning(1-3)
Vivid description of the calamity (4-11)
A more Urgent Call To Repentance(12-17)
Rend the heart, not the garments (12-14)
Sincerely repent, fervently pray (15-17)
The day of Jehovah: a day of blessing to Israel, a day of terror to her enemies [Jehovah speaks (2:18-3:21)]
Blessings promised to Israel (2:18-32)
Repentance implied: Jehovah’’s gracious change (18)
The removal of Jehovah’s army, temporal blessings promised (19-27)
Outpouring of the Spirit and approaching judgment (28-32)
Outpouring of the Spirit (28-29)
Judgment upon the wicked parallel to blessings on Israel (30-31)
The escape of a remnant in Zion (32)
Judgment Upon The Nations(3:1-16a)
All wrongs committed against the people are to be avenged (1-3)
Neighbor nations will suffer the severe judgment of slavery in a far land (4-8)
Destruction of all heathen powers by a divine decree (9-16a)
Glorification of the people of God: Israel’s final happiness and peace contrasted with the desolation of her enemies (3:16b-21)
SLIDE 30 Group Questions
What are the three important events that for Joel were all “the day of the Lord?”
Who are the people today most likely to accept someone issuing an urgent warning of impending calamity? Who are the most reluctant to believe? Which are you?
What natural calamities or troubles have reminded you of your total dependence on God?
How does knowing the character of God (Joel 2:13) affect your repentance (1 John 1:9)?
It seems that the New Testament apostles believed the end was very near in their lifetime. Were they wrong about their urgency? What is a proper attitude about the “when” of the end?
How might theology about the end times differ for people living in areas which have for many years been places of violence, terror and unrest?
Joel begins with tragedy but closes with triumph. How does this help you when you think of the things that are to come?
Questions
- What does Joel ask his hearers to do in 1:2-3? What purpose would be served by future generations being told what the prophet talks about here? (1:3; Deut. 6:20-25) What group is addressed first? (1:2) Why do you think this would be significant?
- How is this disaster described in verse 4? Do you think it describes different waves of invading locusts, or the different stages of locust development and the ruin each stage causes? How severe or complete would the damage be?
- What group is addressed in verse 5? How would they be affected? Thought question: what lifestyle is represented by this group? (1 Pet. 4:3-4)
- What does the prophet describe in 1:6-7? What is so vivid about his descriptions? In a word, how would you describe the damage caused by the locusts?
- What else has been affected by the locusts’ damage? (1:8-9) How is this different from the group and their activities from verse 5? Who else suffers from what has happened? (1:10-12)
- The descriptions of the locusts and the heavy damage they caused are followed by what in verse 13? What are the priests called upon to do? What was the purpose for such actions? What else were they told to do? (1:14) What would these activities evidence?
- This awful calamity pointed towards something else. What was it? (1:15) What do you think the phrase “day of Jehovah” means? What evidence did the prophet give for this prediction? (1:16-20) In times like these, who is the only source in which to turn? (1:19) Any lessons for us in this?
- What would be the purpose for the blowing of the trumpet in 2:1? How is “the day of Jehovah” initially described? (2:2-3) To what other recorded instances is it like? (Ex. 10:21-24; 19:16) What do you think is being described in 2:2-11?
- Who do you think is this “great and mighty people” (2:2) or the northern army”? (2:20) Was it a human army or a more severe dose of the same punishment they had already experienced? How is the wording in 2:4-9, as well as what is said in 2:25, the key to a proper understanding? How do we know God is behind all this? (2:11)
- In spite of the terror that was coming, was it too late? What did God desire that would stop His judgment from coming? (2:12) What is so expressive about the statement in 2:13a? (Compare it to Psalm 51:17) What else is emphasized about God in 2:13? If repentance is realized, what will happen in Judah? (2:14)
- What would be the purpose for the blowing of the trumpet in 2:15? (Num.10:3,7) What would be the purpose of this assembly? (2:16-17) What is the basic message of the people’’s petition before God? (2:17)
- Based upon genuine repentance, how will God react towards His people, their promised land? (2:18) What would return? (2:19,21-26) What would be removed? (2:20) Based on all these things happening, what would God’’s people know? (2:27)
- What would God give that is even a greater blessing than the return of physical blessings? (2:28-29) What is being discussed here? Where and how does it have New Testament implications?
- Put in your own words what you think Joel meant in 2:28 by “all flesh” or “all mankind.”
- How would the wonders of 2:30-31 show themselves? When, where, and how do you think they were fulfilled?
- What is the only way to escape the awful tragedies of these events? (2:32; Obad. 17) How does one “call upon the name of the Lord”? (2:32; Acts 22:16)
- Following the spiritual blessings upon His people, what does God have in store for those who oppose Him, His children? (3:1-2) When will these events take place? (3:1; Amos 9:11-14, Acts 15:14-18; Isa. 11:11) What is the overall message here?
- Research question: (follow up to question 17) What does “Jehoshaphat” mean and where do we read of it in Scripture?
- What does God have against these peoples whom He will judge? (3:2b-3) Who is specifically addressed in 3:4? What had they done? (3:5-6) What will befall them? (3:7-8)
- Looking at 3:9-17 as a whole, what do you think is the main message? What do you see as the main points that stand out in this section that indicate its main message?
- Despite the judging of God upon wickedness, what will happen to His people? (3:16b-17) What is described in 3:18-20?
- Though the language of Joel 3:9-21 is difficult, try writing below the main thought of this section of his prophecy.
The Prophecy Of
God’s
Like Obadiah, the Scripture does not give us very much information about the prophet Joel. There were 13 other men named “Joel” in the Old Testament. Of this Joel, whose name means “
Date
This prophecy, like the one from Obadiah, is difficult to date. Therefore, whatever date is chosen must be done so with the admission that it cannot be taken absolutely. The two most popular dates are an early one (835-830 B.C.) and a later one, sometime after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem (539-536 B.C.). The date we will use for this study is the early one, sometime around 830 B.C. Joel does not mention Babylon, Assyria, nor Syria. As of this early date, they had not yet risen as adversaries to Judah.
Most conservative Biblical scholars believe Joel prophesied during the days when young Joash ruled as a boy king (835-796 B.C.) under the tutelage of the priest Jehoiada (2 Chron. 23-24). While we do not read of any references to a king, we do see the prophet making mention of elders and priests (1:14; 2:16-17). This may be referring to the influence of Jehoiada upon Judah’s throne.
Joel mentions Egypt, Edom, Philistia, and Phoenicia as the adversaries to God’s people (3:4, 19). During the days of Rehoboam, Egypt had invaded Judah (1 Kings 14:25-28). Both Edom and Philistia fought against Judah during the reign of Jehoram (2 Kings 8:20-22).
The fact that we cannot be exactly certain about a date for this prophecy in no way takes away from our ability to
The Main Messages Of The Prophecy
The very essence of Joel’s message can be summed up in one word:
Joel mentions an invading army of locusts (1:4). Some have taken this as figurative, standing for an invading human army sent by God to punish Judah. Others understand this was a literal swarming invasion of locusts sent by God. One only has to read Deut. 28:38-42 to know that God did indeed send the devouring insects as judgment for sin. We take the position that they were literal locusts sent by God to punish a rebellious people. Whether the locusts were real or representative of an invading human army, the point is clear: they were from God. They were causing immense devastation in Judah. Only the people’s repentance would send them away and avert an even stronger, more severe judgment: “the day of the Lord” (2:1-17).
The other main message of Joel’s prophecy is
Major Outline Of The Prophecy
The prophecy of Joel falls into 2 distinct sections. Here is a look at what is taught in these 2 sections:
1:1 - 2:17
In this section, the prophet Joel is the spokesman. He foretells of the coming doom of God’s judgment in the form of the locust invasion, and uses this as his call for the people’s repentance. What God desires is not merely an
2:18 - 3:21
In this section, Jehovah God is the spokesman. He reassures His children that though they must be punished for their sins, there will come future blessings. These blessings will take 3 different forms: 1) a return of
A more detailed outline for Joel’s prophecy follows:
Outline Of Joel’’s Prophecy
The harbinger of the day of Jehovah: the judgment of God and the prophet’s call to repentance [the prophet speaks (1:2-2:17)]
Devastation of Judah: scourge of locusts, drought, and fire (1:2-20)
Graphic description of the locust scourge (2-4)
Call to various classes to mourn, or repent (5-14)
The awful calamity: “day of Jehovah” — prayer for mercy (15-20)
B. A more urgent summons to repentance and prayer: the scourge is a forerunner of the day of judgment (2:1-17)
The urgent summons (1-11)
The trumpet of warning(1-3)
Vivid description of the calamity (4-11)
A more Urgent Call To Repentance(12-17)
Rend the heart, not the garments (12-14)
Sincerely repent, fervently pray (15-17)
The day of Jehovah: a day of blessing to Israel, a day of terror to her enemies [Jehovah speaks (2:18-3:21)]
Blessings promised to Israel (2:18-32)
Repentance implied: Jehovah’’s gracious change (18)
The removal of Jehovah’s army, temporal blessings promised (19-27)
Outpouring of the Spirit and approaching judgment (28-32)
Outpouring of the Spirit (28-29)
Judgment upon the wicked parallel to blessings on Israel (30-31)
The escape of a remnant in Zion (32)
Judgment Upon The Nations(3:1-16a)
All wrongs committed against the people are to be avenged (1-3)
Neighbor nations will suffer the severe judgment of slavery in a far land (4-8)
Destruction of all heathen powers by a divine decree (9-16a)
Glorification of the people of God: Israel’s final happiness and peace contrasted with the desolation of her enemies (3:16b-21)
Questions
- What does Joel ask his hearers to do in 1:2-3? What purpose would be served by future generations being told what the prophet talks about here? (1:3; Deut. 6:20-25) What group is addressed first? (1:2) Why do you think this would be significant?
- How is this disaster described in verse 4? Do you think it describes different waves of invading locusts, or the different stages of locust development and the ruin each stage causes? How severe or complete would the damage be?
- What group is addressed in verse 5? How would they be affected? Thought question: what lifestyle is represented by this group? (1 Pet. 4:3-4)
- What does the prophet describe in 1:6-7? What is so vivid about his descriptions? In a word, how would you describe the damage caused by the locusts?
- What else has been affected by the locusts’ damage? (1:8-9) How is this different from the group and their activities from verse 5? Who else suffers from what has happened? (1:10-12)
- The descriptions of the locusts and the heavy damage they caused are followed by what in verse 13? What are the priests called upon to do? What was the purpose for such actions? What else were they told to do? (1:14) What would these activities evidence?
- This awful calamity pointed towards something else. What was it? (1:15) What do you think the phrase “day of Jehovah” means? What evidence did the prophet give for this prediction? (1:16-20) In times like these, who is the only source in which to turn? (1:19) Any lessons for us in this?
- What would be the purpose for the blowing of the trumpet in 2:1? How is “the day of Jehovah” initially described? (2:2-3) To what other recorded instances is it like? (Ex. 10:21-24; 19:16) What do you think is being described in 2:2-11?
- Who do you think is this “great and mighty people” (2:2) or the northern army”? (2:20) Was it a human army or a more severe dose of the same punishment they had already experienced? How is the wording in 2:4-9, as well as what is said in 2:25, the key to a proper understanding? How do we know God is behind all this? (2:11)
- In spite of the terror that was coming, was it too late? What did God desire that would stop His judgment from coming? (2:12) What is so expressive about the statement in 2:13a? (Compare it to Psalm 51:17) What else is emphasized about God in 2:13? If repentance is realized, what will happen in Judah? (2:14)
- What would be the purpose for the blowing of the trumpet in 2:15? (Num.10:3,7) What would be the purpose of this assembly? (2:16-17) What is the basic message of the people’’s petition before God? (2:17)
- Based upon genuine repentance, how will God react towards His people, their promised land? (2:18) What would return? (2:19,21-26) What would be removed? (2:20) Based on all these things happening, what would God’’s people know? (2:27)
- What would God give that is even a greater blessing than the return of physical blessings? (2:28-29) What is being discussed here? Where and how does it have New Testament implications?
- Put in your own words what you think Joel meant in 2:28 by “all flesh” or “all mankind.”
- How would the wonders of 2:30-31 show themselves? When, where, and how do you think they were fulfilled?
- What is the only way to escape the awful tragedies of these events? (2:32; Obad. 17) How does one “call upon the name of the Lord”? (2:32; Acts 22:16)
- Following the spiritual blessings upon His people, what does God have in store for those who oppose Him, His children? (3:1-2) When will these events take place? (3:1; Amos 9:11-14, Acts 15:14-18; Isa. 11:11) What is the overall message here?
- Research question: (follow up to question 17) What does “Jehoshaphat” mean and where do we read of it in Scripture?
- What does God have against these peoples whom He will judge? (3:2b-3) Who is specifically addressed in 3:4? What had they done? (3:5-6) What will befall them? (3:7-8)
- Looking at 3:9-17 as a whole, what do you think is the main message? What do you see as the main points that stand out in this section that indicate its main message?
- Despite the judging of God upon wickedness, what will happen to His people? (3:16b-17) What is described in 3:18-20?
- Though the language of Joel 3:9-21 is difficult, try writing below the main thought of this section of his prophecy.
Group Questions
What are the three important events that for Joel were all “the day of the Lord?”
Who are the people today most likely to accept someone issuing an urgent warning of impending calamity? Who are the most reluctant to believe? Which are you?
What natural calamities or troubles have reminded you of your total dependence on God?
How does knowing the character of God (Joel 2:13) affect your repentance (1 John 1:9)?
It seems that the New Testament apostles believed the end was very near in their lifetime. Were they wrong about their urgency? What is a proper attitude about the “when” of the end?
How might theology about the end times differ for people living in areas which have for many years been places of violence, terror and unrest?
Joel begins with tragedy but closes with triumph. How does this help you when you think of the things that are to come?