Agere Sequitur Esse

Joel

Book of Joel

Notes.. .

. ..Introduction. By Joel to warn Judah of God’s impending judgement because of their sins and urge them to turn back to God. People include Joel and the people of Judah. The place is Jerusalem.
. ..Themes. Punishment, Forgiveness, and The Promise of the Holy Spirit.
. ..Outline. “The land of Judah was devastated. Locusts, like a huge army had destroyed much of the vegetation. A severe drought had made the situation even worse. Although there had been locust plagues before, no one could remember one as bad as this. Humans and beasts alike were suffering greatly. In the midst of this tragedy, God called one of the citizens of Judah, a man named Joel to provide a proper interpretation of the terrible events and recommend a course of action for the people to follow” (William Seay 2019, L12 28:19–28:59).
. ..Application. “Few of life’s tragedies are the direct judgement of God. The unfair and dangerous idea that every calamity is due to personal sin in the life of the sufferer still haunts and hurts people. One the other hand, when serious difficulties come to an individual or a nation, it is wise to take some time for self-examination” (Seay 2019, L12 34:12–34:38).
. ..Timeline. Written from 835 to 796.

Introduction. 26:05 – The purpose was to warn Judah of God’s impending judgement because of their sins and urge them to turn back to God. The author was Joel. The key people are Joel and the people of Judah. The key place is Jerusalem.

Themes. 26:40 – There are three theological themes. (i) Punishment. Like a destroying army of locusts, God’s punishment of sin is overwhelming, dreadful, and unavoidable. When it comes, there will be no food, no water, no protection, and no escape. The day for settling accounts with God for how we have lived is fast approaching. (ii) Forgiveness. God stood ready to forgive and restore all those who would come to Him and turn away from sin. God wanted to show His people with His love and restore them to a proper relationship with Him. (iii) The Promise of the Holy Spirit. Joel predicts the time when God will pour out His holy Spirit on all people. It will be the beginning of new and fresh worship of God by those who believe in Him but also the beginning of judgement on all those who reject Him.

Outline. 28:10 – The land of Judah was devastated. Locusts, like a huge army had destroyed much of the vegetation. A severe drought had made the situation even worse. Although there had been locust plagues before, no one could remember one as bad as this. Humans and beasts alike were suffering greatly. In the midst of this tragedy, God called one of the citizens of Judah, a man named Joel to provide a proper interpretation of the terrible events and recommend a course of action for the people to follow. Actually, we know very little about this man. Even the date of his ministry is uncertain Perhaps it was in the 9th century BC or as late as the 4th century BC. We know that his name means, the Lord is God, and we know that he suffered along with the people.

Joel understood that the problem was primarily a theological matter. He knew the solution would be to be theological in nature. He interpreted these calamities as judgement God sent because of the sin of unfaithfulness of God’s people. The day of the Lord, the day of judgement, was near at hand. Joel still held out hope but only if the people repented and sought God with prayer and fasting. He earnestly encouraged all the citizens of Judah to return in genuine faith to God and to seek His grace and mercy.

Joel provided a rarity among biblical prophets. His [ ] often ignored or rejected prophetic council. Apparently, they heeded the word of Joel. The people repented and God forgave them. God removed the plague of locusts and sent rain upon the parched land. The fields brought forth a good harvest. Once again, joy reigned in Judah.

God had more to say to His people. In the last half of the book, Joel turned his attention to the more distant future. He described a time when God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. Signs in heaven and on earth would accompany God’s actions. Another day of the Lord, a day of decisions for all persons and nations would be ushered in. Those who would welcome God’s gracious presence in their lives would be forever blessed. Those who rejected Him would be judged severely and separated from the people of God.

The day of the Lord is at the center of Joel’s theology. He used traditional language to interpret a natural catastrophe. God never ignores sin. Judgement is certain to come, sooner or later. The Word also used natural means to accomplish this as done in the time of Joel. Though Joel, like many other writers of Scripture taught that the entire universe when people disobey God and live a life of unfaithfulness, no sins are insignificant. All have cosmic implications. God, however, is a gracious and merciful God. He is eager for sinners to turn from their evil ways. He is always ready to forgive those who come to Him in genuine repentance.

Restoration of a correct relationship between God and His people brings healing and joy to the land and people. Restoration is not automatic. It involves repentance from the heart and not simply participation in public rites and ceremonies. God calls His people to observe such rites and public testimony to a sincere change of life’s direction. Only such change signals true repentance. Those who live in accord with God’s purpose in obedience and faithfulness will be forever blessed. Those who spurn Him will ultimately be cut off completely. Each person decides his or her own eternal destiny. The local faith was not a freak happening of nature, it was an act of God. It was God’s way of judging a sinful nation. Such a day of the Lord was not God’s final act. That would come afterwards when God would pour out His Spirit so all people would know His will just as God’s prophets near Him knew His will by receiving His Spirit. Thus, Joel foretold of Pentecost and beyond to the final day of the Lord.

Application. 34:05 – Few of life’s tragedies are the direct judgement of God. The unfair and dangerous idea that every calamity is due to personal sin in the life of the sufferer still haunts and hurts people. One the other hand, when serious difficulties come to an individual or a nation, it is wise to take some time for self-examination. Perhaps, individual or corporate sin is to be confessed and removed. If so, no other solution will be adequate. Members of the Body of Christ are the benefactors of God’s out-poured Spirit. Peter interpreted the promise of God as given by Joel to have been fulfilled at Pentecost. Through Christ and the holy Spirit, Christians have been given a fuller knowledge of God that was even possible to Joel. The Spirit now dwells within us to guide and instruct. He helps us understand what God is doing in our present world.

As Christians, we need to remember that God’s richest blessing has been freely given to us, not because it was deserved. That was because we decided to accept His grace and forgiveness offered through Christ. Without Him, we are helpless. Nothing can separate us from Him. Even Christians sin and our sins are serious. Sins dilute our joy, harm others, and have an adverse effect on the world in which we live. The book of Joel continues to remind us of the ongoing need for confession and lives of faithfulness. We are also reminded of the need to encourage non-Christians who decide to turn to the Lord for forgiveness and an abundant life.

Timeline. 36:30 – Joel’s message was different from that of Hosea and Daniel because Joel just wrote things down as they happened. Joel prophesied and wrote from about c. 835 BC to c. 796 BC. The meaning of Joel 2:28–32 38:50 basically, what Joel was saying here, in a brief statement, that this is a prophecy of the coming of the holy Spirit.

Ref.

Seay, William. 2019. Old Testament Theology [MP3]. Andersonville Theological Seminary (ATS). Camilla, GA: ATS