Joel’s message opens with the pressing circumstance of a plague of locusts. It’s an outbreak of apocalyptic and catastrophic proportions. Repeated swarms (v 4) are invading and advancing across the land (vv 4-9). They’re devouring every blade of grass, every stalk of wheat, and every leaf on every tree (vv 7-12).
Read More hope, promise, disaster, locusts, plagueDisasters should serve as wake-up calls to repentance. This is certainly true with Joel’s prophecy.
The catalogue of destruction and devastation wrought by the locusts (vv 1-12) is followed by an appeal to the people to change their ways and turn to God so that he can wipe away their sins (vv 13-14).
Read More release, forgiveness, repentance, judgmentWhen I was a boy in South Africa I was caught in a plague of locusts. It was simultaneously horrifying and awesome. In the distance the swarm looked like a black cloud . As they approached the distinction between the sky and land was gradually blurred out. Before they arrived they sounded like the sea heard at a distance.
Read More Day of the Lord, prophets, plague, judgmentNo, you’re not experiencing déjà vu. This is the same title as a previous reflection in Joel and is done purposely to emphasize that the prophet has two calls to repentance – the first in 1:13-20 and the second in 2:12-17.
The call to repentance opens with an invitation to return to God (vv 12-14).
Read More blessing, repentance, God’s mercyThere are three things mentioned in chapter 2 concerning the coming of the day of the Lord: a remarkable outpouring of God’s Spirit (vv 28-29), signs and wonders (vv 30-31), and the promise of salvation for those who trust in the Lord (v 32). About 750 years after Joel’s prophecy these things occurred on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
Read More Holy Spirit, salvation, PentecostIn addition to the three things mentioned in Joel 2:28-32 concerning the coming of the day of the Lord (the outpouring of God’s Spirit, signs and wonders, and salvation for those who turn to the Lord) there are three more things that will happen on the day of the Lord.
Read More judgment, hope, joy, renewal, God with us