Joel: Prophet of Desolation, Inspiration, and Restoration

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  1. A Look at the Book

    1. Author - Joel — Yo-el = "Yahweh (Jehovah) is God"

      1. Thirteen other Old Testament characters bear the same name, but none are the same as the prophet.

      2. the son of Pethuel = "the sincerity of God"

    2. Date — of some dispute ranging from 830 - 200 B.C.

      1. The early date makes Joel the earliest prophet of O.T. literature.

      2. Amos begins his prophecy (1:2) by quoting Joel 3:16 and ends the same in 9:13 quoting Joel 3:18.

    3. Theme — a call to repentance for restoration of God’s favor

    4. Setting — Israel has just endured a plague of locusts and drought brought on by their disobedience (1:1-12)

    5. Key words — desolate, desolation (6 times)

    6. Key Phrase — "the day of the Lord" (5 times)

  2. Key Passages & Lessons

    1. 1:1-2:11 Utter devastation by the locusts, described as

      1. A nation strong and without number - 1:6

      2. A great and strong people unlike any other before or after - 2:2

      3. Turning the garden of Eden into a desolate wilderness - 2:3

      4. Running as horsemen with the noise of chariots and of fire; as a strong people in battle array - 2:4-5

      5. Causing the earth to quake, the heavens to tremble, darkening both sun and moon - 2:10

      6. As coming with the voice of the Lord - 2:11

    2. 2:13-14 — the nature of true repentance & God’s forgiveness

      1. "Rend your hearts and not your garments"

      2. Rending garments was a sign of great grief & despair (Gen 37:29, 34 - Reuben/Jacob; Num 14:6 - Joshua/Caleb; Jos 7:6)

      3. God does not want an outward demonstration, but an inward transformation.

    3. 2:28-32 — the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all nations

      1. Including the Gentiles

        1. Isaiah 11:10-12

        2. Acts 2:16-21

      2. "Before the great and terrible day of the Lord shall come"

        1. possibly the destruction of Jerusalem

        2. most likely the Judgment Day (cf Luke 3:16-17)

    4. 3:14 — "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision"

      1. 1 Kings 18 — Elijah vs Baal’s prophets at Mount Carmel (v 21)

      2. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

 

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