Summary of the Book of Joel

Author:
The Book of Joel states that its author was the Prophet Joel «The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. », (Joel 1:1).

Date of Writing:
The Book of Joel was likely written between 835 and 800 B.C.

Purpose of Writing:
Judah, the setting for the book, is devastated by a vast horde of locusts. This invasion of locusts destroys everything—the fields of grain, the vineyards, the gardens, and the trees. Joel symbolically describes the locusts as a marching human army and views all of this as divine judgment coming against the nation for her sins. The book is highlighted by two major events. One is the invasion of locusts and the other the outpouring of the Spirit. The initial fulfillment of this is quoted by Peter in Acts 2 as having taken place at Pentecost.

Key Verses:

Joel 1:4, “What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten.”

Joel 2:25, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten…”

Joel 2:28, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”

Brief Summary:
A terrible plague of locusts is followed by a severe famine throughout the land. Joel uses these events as the catalyst to send words of warning to Judah. Unless the people repent quickly and completely, enemy armies will devour the land as did the natural elements. Joel appeals to all the people and the priests of the land to fast and humble themselves as they seek God’s forgiveness. If they respond, there will be renewed material and spiritual blessings.Ritual blessings for the nation. However, the Day of the Lord is approaching. During this time, the feared locusts will appear insignificant, as all nations face His judgment.

The central theme of the Book of Joel is the Day of the Lord, a day of God’s wrath and judgment. This is the day when God reveals His attributes of wrath, power, and holiness, and it is a terrifying day for His enemies. In the initial chapter, the Day of the Lord is historically manifested through the plague of locusts upon the land. Chapters 2:1-17 serve as a transitional segment where Joel employs the metaphor of the locust plague and drought to reiterate a call to repentance. Chapters 2:18-3:21 depict the Day of the Lord in eschatological terms and respond to the call to repentance with prophecies of physical restoration (2:21-27), spiritual restoration (2:28-32), and national restoration (3:1-21).

Foreshadowings:
Whenever the Old Testament mentions judgment for sin, whether individual or national sin, it foreshadows the arrival of Jesus Christ. The prophets of the Old Testament consistently urged Israel to repent, yet even when they did, their repentance was confined to law observance and deeds. Their temple sacrifices were merely a glimpse of the ultimate sacrifice, offered once for all time, which would occur at the cross «By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. », (Hebrews 10:10). Joel informs us that God’s final judgment, which occurs on the Day of the Lord, will be “great and terrible. Who can endure it?” «and the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? », (Joel 2:11). The response is that we, by ourselves, can never withstand such a moment. However, if we have placed ourFaith in Christ for the atonement of our sins ensures that we have nothing to fear on the Day of Judgment.

Practical Application:
Without repentance, judgment will be severe, thorough, and inevitable. Our reliance should not be on our possessions but on the Lord our God. God may sometimes use nature, sorrow, or other ordinary events to bring us closer to Him. However, in His mercy and grace, He has provided the definitive plan for our salvation—Jesus Christ, crucified for our sins and exchanging our sin for His perfect righteousness “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”, (2 Corinthians 5:21). There is no time to waste. God’s judgment will come swiftly, like a thief in the night “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”, (1 Thessalonians 5:2), and we must be prepared. Today is the day of salvation “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, And in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”, (2 Corinthians 6:2). “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7). Only by accepting God’s salvation can we avoid His wrath on the Day of the Lord.