So that we can keep our historical bearings for the “Minor Prophets,” I’d like to review a bit of history that we covered last week. If you recall, the twelve tribes of Israel were united as one nation during the reigns of the first three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. But after Solomon’s reign, his son Rehoboam made some really stupid political blunders which led to the 10 tribes to the north seceding from the “union,” leaving just 2 tribes to the south, resulting in a “Northern Kingdom” referred to as “Israel,” and a “Southern Kingdom” called Judah. While Judah had many “good” kings who drew the people to the Lord, her “sister” to the north, Israel, had only “evil” kings who led the people away from God. Joel was a prophet to Judah, the Southern Kingdom.
In about 835 B.C., disaster struck the Southern Kingdom under the reign of King Joash. An ominous dark cloud came out of nowhere and descended upon the nation. That cloud was not composed of rain, but of locusts. In a matter of hours, every green plant had been stripped bare. Joel used this plague to deliver God’s message to the people of Judah. He proclaimed that the plague of locusts was not only God’s judgment for their long pattern of sin, but also a “wake up call” to repent and turn back to God.
Joel, whose name means “Yahweh is God,” faithfully admonished the people to turn to the Lord with penitent hearts so that God could bless rather than punish them. He also warned that if they continued down the road of injustice and immorality, judgment would be inevitable. Joel stressed the sovereignty of God and His power over nations, and points out how God may use nature to get the attention of His people.
Elements of disaster run throughout the book with descriptions of locust plagues, raging fires, and invading armies, but there is always the promise of hope for the future if the people repent. The locust plagues had stripped the grape vines and fruit trees and ruined the grain harvest bringing the economy of the nation to a standstill. Needless to say, the people found themselves in desperate need which Joel hoped would turn their hearts to the Lord. In addition, Joel used these natural disasters to warn of another coming calamity by invading armies when the “Day of the Lord” arrives,
“The Day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, and who can endure it?” (Joel 2:11).
The Day of the Lord is always considered to be a time of Judgment. It would first happen in 586 B.C. when the Babylonian army would destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, taking the people into captivity in Babylon; and then it would happen again in AD 70 when the Roman army would once again destroy the rebuilt city and temple. Realizing that disaster could be averted, Joel always reminded the people,
“Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning” (Joel. 2:12).
As Joel called for repentance, he also assured them that if they did, God would “relent” over the calamity that He had planned to bring upon them. Sadly, Judah continued to rebel against the Lord, and although judgment would come, God promised that He would pour out his blessings upon the people. In fact, 800 years later, Peter would announce that Joel’s prophecy of blessing was being poured out upon the people gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church. Here is a part of Joel’s prophecy, quoted by the Apostle Peter in the Book of Acts (Acts 2:14-21),
“And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days….And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:28-32).
One of the promises of God in Joel is often used to bring assurance to those who have experienced years of wandering far from God and suffering the consequences of sin. Here is what the Lord promised to the nation,
“I will make up to you for the years that the locusts have eaten…And you shall have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God who has dealt wondrously with you. Then My people will never be put to shame. Thus, you will know that I am the LORD your God and there is no other” (Joel 2:25-27).
The message of Joel is one that we should remember. Even though disaster may come as a result of bad choices we have made, God always promises renewal if we will return to Him. We cannot bring back the wasted years, but God promised to give us something far better by forgiving our sins and allowing His presence to dwell within us. If you have experienced years that the locusts of sin have eaten away at your life, like Joel admonishes, simply return to the Lord and He will restore what the locusts have eaten. It’s never too late to do so. God always keeps His promises!
Peggy and I pray for His blessings on your lives. Have a wonderful week!
