JOEL

Joel’s prophecy warns the Israelites of the “Day of the Lord,” a future time when God will intervene to bring judgment and justice. Through vivid imagery, Joel speaks of a locust plague symbolizing the coming devastation and calling the Israelites to repent. While Joel’s message starts with judgment, it also offers hope of God’s promise to restore His people through His Spirit.

Joel demonstrates deep familiarity with the scriptures and the writings of other prophets by mirroring themes found in Malachi, Obadiah, Ezekiel, Nahum, Zephaniah, Isaiah, and Amos. Unlike other prophets, Joel is more general in his warnings, refraining from directly addressing specific sins and only briefly mentioning enemy nations. Although the exact time period of Joel’s prophecy is unknown, it is most likely around the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, after the Israelites have been exiled. In this time of uncertainty, Joel points to a future time when God will dwell among His people through the Holy Spirit.

    • Call to repentance 

    • Promise of restoration 

    • Outpouring of the Spirit

    • God’s mercy

    • Joel 

    • Author: Joel 

    • Date: 835 and 796 BC

    • Intended Audience: The people of Judah and more generally God’s people


JOEL 1

DESTRUCTION IS COMING UPON JERUSALEM 

The prophet Joel warns the Israelites of the coming “Day of the Lord,” a time when God will intervene to bring judgment and justice to the Earth. In this warning, Joel vividly describes a locust swarm invading and attacking Israel. The description of this infestation uses similar language as Exodus 10, when a plague of locusts was sent upon Israel’s oppressors, the Egyptians.

Through Joel, God warns that a great swarm of locusts will cause devastation to the land, comparing the locusts to an attacking army. To explain the total destruction that would occur, Joel describes the vines being stripped and the fig trees withering due to the locusts. Although it is possible that these are literal locusts, it is likely that this imagery is used to describe an army or foreign nation swarming into Jerusalem.

Because of this agricultural upheaval, the people will not have any food or crops to provide for their families or for offerings to God. Everyone in Jerusalem will suffer from this impending judgment. Joel calls for lamenting among the nation as a sign of repentance and mourning.

JOEL 2

GOD WILL BOTH JUDGE + RESTORE HIS PEOPLE 

Joel continues his warning of a future Day of the Lord, including military-like depictions of destruction. God will send an invading army upon Jerusalem, who has sinned and turned away from God. Joel wonders if anyone will be able to endure God’s wrath.

Joel calls for repentance among the people, begging for the Israelites to submit their hearts towards God instead of ripping their garments in a religious act of mourning. God does not want false religiosity or showy behavior; He desires a heart-level response from His people.

Joel remembers God’s trustworthy character and references Exodus 34:6-7, recalling that God is slow to anger and full of steadfast love. He believes that although there is desolate wilderness in the Israelite’s past, there will be a fruitful garden in their future.

God responds to the people and shows pity towards them, providing them food and protection. He reveals His abundant nature by returning the rain for the crops, filling the threshing floors with wheat, and overflowing the vats with wine. God’s restoration includes a complete reversal of the locust damage, showing how He will renew Jerusalem physically and spiritually (Joel 2:25).

God tells of a future time when He will pour out His Spirit among His people, which is fulfilled in Acts 2 and is known as Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within God’s people.

JOEL 3

GOD WILL REBUILD HIS PEOPLE + DWELL AMONG THEM 

Through Joel, God confronts evil within the nations, promising that Egypt and Edom will become wastelands. For the prosperity of His people, God will restore peace in Jerusalem. God will serve as a refuge and stronghold for the Israelites, rebuilding their wealth and wellbeing. In the temple in Jerusalem, God will dwell among His people.

Joel’s prophecy speaks to the end times, similar to Ezekiel 40–48. The theology of the end times, also called eschatology, has varying viewpoints and interpretations. Regardless of when this will occur, Joel’s prophecy offers hope of renewal of all creation, pointing to a new Jerusalem and a new Earth. Like a river flowing throughout the land, God plans to nourish, restore, and redeem His creation.