Bible Book of Joel | Day of the Lord
A call to repentance after a locust plague, followed by the promise of the Spirit's outpouring in the latter days. Joel chapters explained with summary and commentary.
About Joel
Genre: Minor Prophet. Theme: Day of the Lord
- Author
- Joel
- Date
- c. 835 BC
- Read Time
- 15 mins
- Purpose
- To call for repentance for the 'Day of the Lord'.
- Key Verse
- Joel 2:28 - I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.
- Christ
- The Pourer out of the Spirit.
- Audience
- Judah during a devastating ecological and economic crisis
- Imagery
- Uses locust plague to symbolize judgment.
- Locust Plague
- Uses a local natural disaster as a prototype for the final 'Day of the Lord'.
- Inward Repentance
- Calls for the 'rending of hearts' rather than the 'rending of garments'.
Joel warns that physical disasters are often wake-up calls for spiritual awakening before the final judgment.
A three-chapter move from a past disaster to a future hope of total restoration.
Jesus is the One who pours out the Holy Spirit, as fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
Overview of Joel
Joel 1 - An Invasion of Locusts
What the locust swarm has left other locusts have eaten. The fields are destroyed. Lament, O priests! The day of the LORD is near.
Joel 2 - The Day of the Lord
A great army is on the mountains. Return to the LORD for he is merciful. "Fear not, I will restore you. I will pour out my Spirit."
Joel 3 - The Lord Judges the Nations
"I will gather all the nations for judgement. For the day of the LORD is near. Jerusalem will be inhabited for all generations."