Joel

The author of Joel is the son of Pethuel, but there is no other reference to him in the Old Testa­ment. For this reason, it is difficult to establish the date of his prophecy.

He alludes to some enemies of Israel including Tyre, Sidon, Philistia, Egypt and Edom (3:4,19) which suggests an early date. Accordingly, many commentators suggest the ninth century B.C. as a possible time frame. There is no general agreement, however, as others feel he wrote just before Babylon became the first of four great empires.

Spiritual conditions

In Joel, complacency (1:4) and a casual approach to repentance (2:13) are the focal points of God’s grievances. This suggests Joel lived in prosperous times and gives the prophecy greater application to ourselves.

Only a few specific offenses are highlighted with no direct statement of general corruption in Judah. Thus Joel may be describing a fairly early stage of Judah’s history, or he may have lived during a period of reform.

A momentous event coming

“Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?” Unprecedented events were to occur, a desolation of unparalleled magnitude was coming.

At God’s instruction, Joel prophesies of a locust invasion that would make the land desolate. Four Hebrew words are used for the destroyer which are rendered locust swarm, great locusts, young locusts and other locusts by the NIV. A literal translation describes the locust plague thus: “Gnawer’s remnant, swarmer eats; swarmer’s remnant, de­vourer eats, devourer’s remnant, consumer eats” (1:4). With an economy of words, the Hebrew text emphasizes the complete destruction the locusts bring.

Devastating plagues

Descriptions of locust plagues in the Middle Fast speak of a whole countryside being wasted in a matter of hours. Scripture describes the locust plague of Exodus in similar terms: “…There remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.”

The damage done to agricultural crops would touch everyone in Judah. The drunkard would be denied his supply of wine (1:5) and the priests would have no meal or drink offering to present in the house of God (1:9). Husbandmen would abandon their harvest and cattle would lack pasture (1:18).

Joy and gladness would vanish from the house of God. By God’s own judgment, food would be so scarce in the land that God would not receive His offerings. Religious exercises that had become mere rituals would cease altogether. Instead of contributing meat and drink offerings, citizens would ration food to ward off starvation. Many would go hungry or barely have enough for themselves.

God wanted repentance

Destruction has never been the end God has desired (H Peter 3:9). While all were to hear a message of devastation, the objective was repentance. Those who would refuse God’s conditions would have voluntarily chosen death.

Divine pity was available but the repentance could not be superficial, “…rend your heart, and not your garments.” Today, as then, we find the latter much easier to do even though it is without any value.

A fast to be proclaimed

To begin the process of recovery, God demanded that a fast be held (1:14). All were to participate — elders, priests, children, infants, even bride and bridegroom were to take part. National misbehavior had incurred God’s wrath; only national remorse could remove it.

The people had no righteousness of their own on which to base an appeal. They were humbly to acknowledge there was only one reason God should save them — “Wherefore should they [the heathen] say among the people, Where is their God?” (2:17). One might have thought there would have been more basis than this.

Interestingly, this is reminiscent of the appeal made by Moses on the people’s behalf. Could the spiritual life in Joel’s time have been as bad as in the wilder­ness?

Divine response promised

Like a father, God always responds positively when His children show sincere repentance. He would restore the years that the locusts had eaten (2:25) and, in a future day, He will pour out His spirit on His sons and daughters (2:28).

A token fulfillment was given at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21), yet before the promise can be completed, the “day of the LORD” must come (3:14).

Locusts representative

Although the locust plague is at first presented in natural terms, there is an early suggestion in Joel that it represents a foreign invasion, “a nation is come up upon my land…” (1:6). In chapter two, this impression is strengthened by the frequent use of military terms — “a fire devoureth before them…like the noise of chariots…they shall run like mighty men.”

Some expositors have suggested that the nation of 1:6 is Assyria and/or Babylon. The mention of lion-like characteristics fit this identification. Others see domination by four nations (Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome) corresponding to the palmerworm, locust, canker­worm and caterpillar (1:4). Down through the ages, the Jews have suffered terribly at the hands of many enemies.

The last days

The final theme of Joel’s prophecy is the easiest for us to understand and pinpoint in time. While we may not know when Joel lived, we know for certain he spoke of the latter end. His closing words did not occur in his day, “But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation” (3:20).

A rapid progression toward the fulfillment of his final words has taken place in our century. The captivity (restoration) of Judah and Jerusalem has occurred (3:1). Proliferation of armaments continues at a rapid pace (v.10). The weak are saying they are strong (v.10). Attention continues to be cen­tered on middle eastern affairs (v.11).

The kingdom

Joel’s words extend beyond our own days to the return of Christ and the establishment of his kingdom. The book of Joel thus provides practical information for all those who will eventually be called on to help Jesus begin his rule. May we make it our practice to “rend our hearts and not our garments,” otherwise we may miss the opportunity to share in God’s kingdom.