Joel
This
small book of only three chapters deals with the subject of judgment upon Israel
and the promised restoration. The name Joel means "Jehovah is God" which is the
same meaning as Elijah only the two words are reversed. Elijah means "God is
Jehovah."
Joel 1 –
Plague of Locusts.
•Loss from the plague: the plague of locust ate up all the vegetation
(locust, cankerworm, and caterpillar all refer to the locust); the locust
stripped the vines and the trees and caused a great loss of food. •Likeness
of the plague: the locust plague was a picture of the forthcoming invasion
of an enemy army (Assyria) that God would use to destroy the land because of the
people's sin. •Lamenting from the plague: the call to lament was also a
call to repent; Israel was to mourn over their sin and to cry unto the God for
deliverance; they were not to ignore and explain away the plague but see it as
judgment.
Joel 2 –
Presence of Assyrians.
God had Assyria invade Israel as punishment for the sin of the Jews. •Power
of the invaders: it was destructive (they left desolation in their
path—they could turn an Eden into a wilderness); dread (they caused
fear); dynamic (they were invincible); Deity (God led them).
•Plea in the invasion: the exhortation to repent (in view of
the invasion the people should repent); the encouragement to repent
(the mercy of God). •Promise of deliverance: the removal (the
invaders would be driven away); the rejoicing (the deliverance would
cause them to rejoice); the reproduction (the land would produce
again); the revival (a spiritual revival would also occur in the
deliverance).
Joel 3 –
Promise of Restoration.
•Return: the captivity will return to Judah and Jerusalem.
•Retribution: the parties in the retribution (all
nations—Gentile nations); the place of the retribution (Valley of
Jehoshaphat); the provoking of the retribution (the mistreatment of
Israel and the "great" [v. 13] wickedness
of the nations); power of the retribution (the sun, moon, and stars
would be affected). •Recovery: this involved productivity of
the land (Israel will again become fruitful and produce much); peace in
the land (old enemies will be destroyed and peace will abide in the land);
purity in the land (cleansing by God of the people).