Joel

Joel was originally from Judah/Judea, and, judging from its prominence in his prophecy, was quite possibly a prophet associated with the ritual of Solomon's or even the Second temple. According to a long-standing tradition, Joel was buried in Gush Halav.

Because Israel had sinned, God would come in judgement on them. Thus, the day of the Lord is about God chastening his people, whether it be through the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem or a locust plague described in Joel 2:1–11.

Joel's pressing mission is to focus on convincing the people to return to the Lord before it is too late. He is confident that a return to the Lord is the only way not to perish, and he knows that the people want to survive. He announces that there is still time to return to the Lord (Joel 2:12).

According to the Eastern Orthodox Christian hymns, the ancient hymnographer Anatolius links Joel's prophecy to the birth of Christ. In Joel 2:30, he says that the blood refers to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, the fire to the Divinity of Christ, and the pillars of smoke to the Holy Spirit.

A. Locusts devastate the land of Judah. (1-4)

Many scholars date the book of Joel to 835 B.C., who served before the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel (721 B.C.) and the southern kingdom of Judah (586 B.C.). Other pre-exilic prophets include Obadiah, Jonah, Hosea, Amos, Isaiah, and Micah. Joel is one of the earliest prophets – only Obadiah prophesied before his time (845 B.C.).

835 B.C. was a period of turmoil in Judah, from the end of the wicked reign of Queen Athaliah, granddaughter of the evil King Omri of Israel, to the reign of King Joash about six years.

Joel prophesied possibly at the end of the six-year reign. “The name Joel means ‘Jehovah is God’ similar to the New Testament confession, ‘Jesus is Lord.’”

There may have meant real locusts but they include a time of famine and financial ruin.

But there is also a need to Awake, you drunkards: because of the devastation the locusts caused. In (8-12) Judah mourns because of the locusts’ destruction.

hat are the locust a symbol of?

How did they "Consecrate a fast"? Why "Call a sacred assembly" and "Gather the elders"?

How can the religious leaders repent and gird themselves?

To "Consecrate a fast" is about getting right with God. "For the grain offering and the drink offering are withheld from the house of your God".

Joel | Joel 1 | Joel 2 | Joel 3

Preceded by: Hosea - Followed by: Amos

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Joel

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