Lessons from the Book of Joel
Although no one knows the exact dates of his prophesy, it seems reasonable to suggest that Joel prophesied about 835 BCE. Joel introduced himself as the son of Pethuel. This shows that he was an actual person, not some mythological hero. The name Joel means “Yahweh is God.” This theme expresses itself throughout the entire book. It was Yahweh who brought the locusts upon Judah. It was Yahweh who encouraged the people to repent. It was Yahweh who promised to pour out his Spirit on all flesh.
The first two chapters make it clear that the locusts were a plague sent from God. People are encouraged to mourn and cry out to God. “Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you wine-drinkers, over the sweet wine, for it is cut off from your mouth” (Joel 1:5). “Lament like a virgin dressed in sackcloth for the husband of her youth” (Joel 1:8). “Be dismayed, you farmers, wail, you winedressers, over the wheat and the barley; for the crops of the fields are ruined” (Joel 1:11) “Put on sackcloth and lament, you priests; wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, pass the night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God!” (Joel 1:13). And many other passages could be included. The Lord had sent judgment upon the land.
Closely associated with the idea of judgment, Joel spoke of “the day of Yahweh.” The phrase occurs five times in the book (Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1; Joel 2:11; Joel 2:31; Joel 3:14). Joel is the first prophet to speak of “the day of Yahweh.” “The day of Yahweh” could refer to a day in which God would act in history or it could refer to the final Judgment. Whatever Joel meant he made it clear that God would manifest himself.
In order to avoid “the day of Yahweh,” Joel encouraged his hearers to repent. Repentance would give “God ca chance to send blessings instead of calamities.” When they would repent, God would send the locusts away. While speaking on God’s behalf, Joel said, “Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD, your God?” (Joel 2:12-14).
Joel also made it clear that God would pour out the Spirit on all flesh. “The afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Joel 2:28-29). This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on the apostles. The apostles were then able to speak in different languages, and the Holy Spirit reminded them of all Jesus had taught. Joel could be called the “Prophet of Pentecost.”
Joel prophesied during a terrible locust plague. He preached three basic themes—“the day of Yahweh,” the need of repentance, and the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh. Judgment is coming. People must repent. The Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost.