Joel- Pathway to Christ
JOEL: YAHWEH WILL RESTORE
Outline
1:1–20 Joel Identifies Judah’s Locust Invasion as Divine Judgment
2:1–17 Joel Issues a Call for Judah to Repent in Light of the Future Day of the Lord
2:18–32 Joel Prophesies the Lord’s Response to Judah’s Repentance
3:1–16 Joel Prophesies Divine Judgment Against Judah’s Enemies
3:17–21 The Lord Describes His Future Blessings for Judah
Comments
Yahweh Will Restore
The prophecy given to Joel depicts the tension between judgment for sin and blessing when there is repentance. Yahweh’s people have already faced devastating judgment from locust swarms, leaving them with nothing. Yet, even more judgment will come unless they repent and seek Yahweh. If his people will repent and return to him, he may relent the coming judgment. He promises them future blessings when they return to him. The blessings include physical and spiritual bounty beyond one’s imagination. In that future day when Yahweh brings blessings on his people, he will also bring judgment against those who are against his people and him. Those who harm his people will face destruction. His people, however, will receive blessings more abundant than they could even imagine. His people will flourish; the others will wither and fade. His people will receive forgiveness; the others will not.
JOEL IDENTIFIES JUDAH’S LOCUST INVASION AS DIVINE JUDGMENT (1:1–20)
Joel, a prophet of Yahweh, receives the following message. The date and intended audience of the prophecy are uncertain. Joel’s prophecy begins by describing the judgment the people are already facing—devastating locust swarms. The locusts have eaten everything, absolutely everything. The devastation is utterly severe. Yet, still the people do not respond as they should. Joel urges them to mourn the judgment that they are currently facing. But, more importantly, Joel calls the people, especially the religious and community leaders, to come before Yahweh in repentance. This call for repentance grows louder in the following section.
JOEL ISSUES A CALL FOR JUDAH TO REPENT IN LIGHT OF THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD (2:1–17)
The severe judgment brought by the locusts is only the beginning of the judgment that is to come. The devastation and the coming judgment should bring their people to their knees in repentance before Yahweh. The coming judgment will be even more devastating and severe than the locusts. Yet, in the midst of the declaration of further judgment, Yahweh again calls the people to repent. Yahweh longs for the people to return to him, for he is a compassionate God who may relent the coming judgment. Yahweh wants to spare his people and bestow blessings on them, as described in the following verses.
JOEL PROPHESIES THE LORD’S RESPONSE TO JUDAH’S REPENTANCE (2:18–32)
Though they have already faced judgment through the locust devastation, and further judgment has been proclaimed, if the people repent, Yahweh will respond favorably. Yahweh wants to take pity on them and bless them. He desires to provide abundantly for them and drive their enemies away. This time of future blessings will lead the people to rejoice in Yahweh as he blesses them and restores to them what the judgment took. He even promises to pour out his spirit on everyone, and to speak to and through all the people—men and women, young and old. Those who trust in Yahweh will be spared and receive blessings, while the others will face judgment. In this promised future, their enemies will be punished.
JOEL PROPHESIES DIVINE JUDGMENT AGAINST JUDAH’S ENEMIES (3:1–16)
While Yahweh desires to bless his people, the nations who are against his people will be judged. The nations who attacked, exiled, and exploited his people will face Yahweh’s judgment. Specifically addressing Tyre, Sidon, and the Philistines as culprits, Yahweh promises to do to them what they did to Judah. All nations will come before Yahweh for judgment, but his people will find safety and security—not judgment. No longer will his kingdom face attacks; the future will be a time of blessings for his people.
THE LORD DESCRIBES HIS FUTURE BLESSINGS FOR JUDAH (3:17–21)
Once the nations are judged, Jerusalem, Yahweh’s kingdom, will be perpetually secure, and he will bring abundant blessings for his people. The imagery of flowing milk and wine picture a land with endless abundance—with more than the people could ever need. Plentiful blessings will fill the land. But those who went against his people, pictured as Egypt and Edom, will be a wasteland. Not so for Judah. Judah will endure forever. They will be forgiven.