The prophet Joel is an important but often overlooked figure in the Old Testament. Here are some key questions people may have about Joel and what the Bible teaches about him:
Who was Joel?
The Bible tells us very little about Joel himself. He identifies himself simply as “Joel son of Pethuel” (Joel 1:1). We don’t know when he lived or any details about his family or background. Based on the content of his prophecy, scholars believe Joel likely prophesied sometime between 835-800 BC during the reigns of King Joash and King Uzziah over the southern kingdom of Judah. He lived in Judah and his prophecy focuses on the southern kingdom.
What is the Book of Joel about?
The Book of Joel is a short but powerful prophetic book. The key themes include:
– God’s judgment on Judah through a devastating locust plague and drought. Joel understands these events as God’s call for the people to repent (Joel 1:1-2:17).
– God’s promise to restore Judah’s fortunes if they return to Him (Joel 2:18-32).
– Joel envisions future restoration for Judah and ultimate judgment on the nations (Joel 3).
So the purpose of Joel is to call Judah to repentance in light of God’s present judgment and coming restoration.
What is the day of the Lord in Joel?
The “day of the Lord” is an important theme in Joel. He describes it as a day of judgment and wrath from God (Joel 1:15; 2:1-2, 11). But for God’s people who repent, it will become a day of blessing and restoration (Joel 2:31-32). Throughout Scripture, prophets see the day of the Lord as a future time when God will directly intervene to judge evil and redeem His people. Joel likely points ultimately to end-time events.
How does Joel use the locust plague?
Joel’s vivid descriptions of a devastating locust invasion (Joel 1:4-12; 2:1-11) provide a metaphor for God’s judgment on Judah. The swarms of locusts illustrate God’s army invading the land due to Judah’s sin, laying waste to everything in its path. Joel calls on the people to mourn this calamity like the death of a loved one to provoke national repentance (Joel 1:8-13).
What is unique about Joel’s prophecy?
A few unique elements in Joel are:
– Joel is the first prophet to use the phrase “day of the Lord,” which becomes important in later prophetic books.
– His warning of the locust plague and drought (1:1-2:17) transitions abruptly to promises of restoration (2:18-32). He moves seamlessly between present judgment and future hope.
– He prophetically anticipates an outpouring of God’s Spirit on “all flesh” so that everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved (2:28-32). This passage is quoted by Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21).
So Joel creatively uses current events in Judah to call for repentance and paint a vision of future blessing.
How does Joel portray God?
Joel highlights several attributes of God:
– God’s sovereignty – As the almighty Creator and Lord of history (Joel 1:15; 2:11)
– God’s justice and wrath over sin – In judging Judah’s unfaithfulness (Joel 1:5,15)
– God’s compassion – In relenting from judgment if Judah repents (Joel 2:12-14)
– God’s restoration – In promising to make His people fruitful again one day (Joel 2:21-27)
Overall, Joel shows God’s passionate desire for His people to live faithfully in relationship with Him.
How does Joel portray Judah’s sin?
Joel confronts Judah’s sin on multiple levels:
– Drunkenness and social injustice (Joel 3:1-3,19)
– Religious apathy and idolatry by turning from God (Joel 1:13-14)
– Moral corruption (Joel 3:3,19)
– Complacency and lack of repentance in light of God’s discipline (Joel 1:2-4)
Joel calls out Judah’s duplicity – they worship God outwardly but their hearts are far from Him (Joel 2:12-13). They must rend their hearts, not just their garments, and truly return to the Lord.
How does Joel point to Christ?
There are several ways Joel ultimately points ahead to Jesus Christ:
– The judgment Joel warns about was ultimately borne by Christ on the cross as He bore God’s wrath for sinners.
– Joel’s prediction of God’s Spirit being poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28-29) was fulfilled at Pentecost after Christ’s work was complete (Acts 2:16-21).
– Joel prophesies about a fountain flowing from the “house of the Lord” (Joel 3:18), likely picturing the living water Christ provides (John 4:10, 7:37-39).
– The restoration Joel anticipates is completely fulfilled in Christ’s eternal kingdom.
So while Joel calls Judah to repentance, he ultimately points to the Savior who would make restoration possible for all nations, Jesus.
How is Joel relevant to us today?
Joel’s message remains deeply relevant today, as it calls God’s people to:
– Wholehearted repentance – Joel warns against empty religious rituals and challenges believers to rend their hearts and fully return to the Lord. This requires honest confession and an openness to God’s correction.
– Renewed faith – Joel promises that the Lord is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love (Joel 2:13). He encourages Judah to hold fast to who God is. Our faith is strengthened by remembering God’s character.
– Holy living – Joel confronts Judah’s duplicity and challenges them to align their outward worship with inner obedience. True repentance transforms how we live.
– Missional urgency – Joel ultimately points to the day of Pentecost and Spirit empowerment that compelled the church toward mission. He reminds us that there is an urgent need for all to hear the gospel while there is time.
As we read Joel, we are confronted with the need for personal and corporate revival that makes us faithful disciples who live holy lives and call others to turn to Christ in these last days.
