Bible Class Notes on Joel Chapter Two
Chapter two depicts a coming locust plague. It does appear that this chapter presents a different plague than the one in chapter one.
What is not absolutely clear is whether this is a literal locust plague or whether it refers to an invasion by a foreign power. The language could be taken either way. Either way we do take this language, the message is still the same.
Danger is Coming, vv 1-2a
The priests are told to blow the trumpet. “Blow the trumpet” and “sound the alarm” form a synonymous parallelism. The idea, therefore, is a trumpet of alarm. Although the horn was sometimes blown to prepare soldiers for battle (Judg. 3:27; 6:24), the horn was also blown to signal an imminent danger (Hos 5:8; 8:1; Amos 3:6; Ezek 33:2-3). The people of Judah need to know that danger is lurking; they needed to be warned.
The people need to tremble because the day of the LORD is coming.
The description here of the day of the LORD as a day of darkness, gloom, clouds, and thick darkness is similar to Amos 5:18-20. Darkness and gloom represent judgment from God (Jer 13:16).
The language here is also similar to God’s self-revelation at Sinai. A thick cloud surrounded Sinai (Ex 19:16). Thick darkness was where God was (Ex 20:21). Moses recalled God speaking in cloud and thick darkness (Deut 5:22). God is, therefore, going to reveal himself in the day of the LORD. God is going to come in judgment upon Judah.
The Appearance of the Locusts, vv 2-11
The appearance from far away, vv 2b-3
They are like blackness spread upon the mountains. There are so many locusts that the mountains become black. When the locusts plague hit Egypt, the land was darkened (Ex 10:15). A plague on Lebanon in 1845 was described in similar terms: “Their number was astounding; the whole face of the mountain was black with them.”
They are great and powerful. This plague is like nothing before or after it.
Fire proceeds and follows them. When locusts approach, there is a bright glimmer in the sky due to the sun’s reflection on their wings. This probably refers to that. However, this could mean that they devour everything to where the land is barren and looks as if it has been burned.
They devour everything. Before them, the land is beautiful and plentiful, like the Garden of Eden. But after them there is just wilderness. Nothing would escape this plague.
Appearance and advance of the locusts, vv 4-6
They look like horses. The head of a locust closely resembles the head of a horse upon careful examination. They run like horses.
They come upon Judah like a mighty army. This is similar to the description of the locusts in Revelation 9:7-10. They come and leap on the tops of mountains. it is as though they are pouncing on Judah. They come like flame on stubble. Fire would devour stubble quickly. The locusts quickly devour everything in their path.
People grow pale and are in anguish before them.
The locusts’ irresistible power, vv 7-11
They charge like warriors and scale the walls like soldiers. This further heightens the analogy of the locusts to an army.
They do not swerve from their way. They do not diverge to the right hand or to the left. They do not leave their formation.
They do not jostle one another—they do not get in each other’s way.
They burst through the weapons. They are not halted. They are strong in their power.
They enter even where they are not welcomed. They enter houses like thieves. Having one’s house overrun by locusts would be devastating.
The plague is so terrible that nature responds. This, of course, is not literal. This is showing how severe and intense this plague is. When God punishes his people, the sun refuses to give light (Amos 8:9).
The LORD controls the locusts. The Lord commands his army: “utters his voice.” Notice that the locusts form “his army.” God is bringing this plague upon the people; the plague is not due to natural phenomena. His host is exceedingly great, and he is powerful. This is the “day of the LORD.” The punishment is so intense that Joel asks, “Who can endure it?”
A Call to Repentance, vv 12-17
In light of the coming locust plague, Joel encourages the people to repent.
God’s plea, vv 12-13a
God is the first to speak. This shows that even though God is punishing his people, he is concerned about them.
God encourages the people to return to him with their whole hearts. God expects his people to come to him with their whole hearts (1 Sam 7:3; Deut 6:5). In order for our service to be acceptable to God, our hearts must be pleasing to him (Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8).
God wanted his people to show their sorrow through fasting, weeping, and mourning. Their inner repentance was to be displayed publicly. God wanted this repentance to be genuine.
God encourages the people to rend their hearts. When one was in sorrow, he would often rend his garments (Job 1:20; 2:12). Here, God wants more than that—He wants the sorrow to be so severe that the people rend their hearts instead of their garments.
The reason for returning, vv 13b-14
The reasoning the people need to return to God is tied up in God’s character. This is very similar to how God revealed himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6.
God is “gracious and merciful.” The Hebrews thought of God as being “gracious and merciful” (cf. Ps 111:4; 112:4; 145:8). The Hebrew word behind “merciful” is the word for “womb;” the idea is that mercy is motherly affection.
God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God does not become angry quickly. God’s “steadfast love” (mercy) is abundant.
God repents of evil. The idea is that God will change his minds concerning evil he intends to bring upon people. God did this when Aaron made the golden calf for the people (Ex 32:7-14). God turns from his anger because his people repent of sin; this is shown in verse 14: “Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him?”
The reason the people needed to return to God is also tied up in what God may do. God might decide not to bring calamity upon the people. He might leave behind the necessary sacrifices for worship.
Call for an assembly, vv 15-17
The people are called together for another assembly (as in 1:14). The trumpet was to be blown to get people’s attention.
Everyone was to attend. No class of people was exempt from this assembly. Even newlyweds are required to attend. Newlyweds were normally exempt from such obligations (Deut 24:5).
The priests were encouraged to pray. The priests are told to stand in the inner court of the priests. The priests are to pray to God. They are to remind God that Israel is his possession: “Spare thy people,” “Thy heritage.” They are to pray that God would no longer make Judah a reproach to other peoples. God had apparently subjected Judah to ridicule.
The blessings of repentance, vv 18-27
Apparently, the priests offered prayer and God heard their prayer and was satisfied because of it.
The blessing toward the land, vv 18-19
The Lord would become jealous toward the land. Notice that God considers the land “his land,” the people “his people.” “Jealous” means “passionate concern, protection.” The idea is that God would look upon the land with favor and protect it.
The Lord would again send grain, wine, and oil. In Joel 1:10, grain, wine, and oil were victims of the locusts’ wrath. Now, God is going to restore what had been lost. The people would be satisfied—they’d have enough to eat, they’d have enough to offer.
Judah would no longer be a reproach to other peoples. This obviously relates to the prayer the priests prayed in verse 17.
The blessing concerning the locusts, v 20
God promised to send the “northerner” far away. Although locusts in Palestine generally came from the south, they did occasionally come from the north. This could mean that the locusts came from the north. However, Judah’s enemies were often depicted as coming from the north (Ezek 38:15; 39:2; Jer 4:6-7; et al).
The doom of the locusts. The front would go into the eastern sea (Dead Sea). The rear would go into the western sea (Mediterranean Sea).
The stench and smell would rise because “he has done great things.” These locusts have caused great destruction; here called “great things.” Notice God is said to have done great things.
The prophet’s song, vv 21-23
Joel next breaks forth in a song which encourages the people to go from despair to joy.
The land could rejoice because God has done great things—God will destroy the locusts and cause plants to grow.
The beasts did not need to fear because they would have food. There is hope—the pastures are green. The trees are bringing forth fruit.
The sons of Zion had reason to be glad. God is giving them abundant rain, not just rain. Notice that God is here an active agent—he is causing the rain.
God promises restoration, vv 24-27
God would restore their agriculture. Grain, wine, and oil would be in abundance. God would restore what the locusts had eaten; this is a promise of total restoration. God would restore the years—these plagues apparently lasted over an extended time period. God identifies these locusts as “his army”—he sent them, he commanded them.
The Hebrews would have plenty to eat. They would be satisfied—they wouldn’t have just enough food to get by. They would praise God’s name for his wonderful acts. God would not again subject his people to such ridicule.
The Hebrews would know God. The people would know that God was in their midst. The people would know that they only had one God. God again promises his children that they would never again be subjected to this ridicule.
Spiritual Blessings, vv 28-32
“It shall come to pass afterward” indicates a long period of time between the fulfillment of the previous verses and the fulfillment of this verse.
God would pour out his spirit on all flesh. “Flesh” separates man from God—Although man has a spiritual nature, he is not spirit; he is flesh. “All flesh” denotes all classes of people. Sons and daughters would prophesy, i.e., they would speak on God’s behalf.
Old men would dream dreams. Dreams were often the medium for divine revelation. Genesis 28:10-17; 37:5-11; Numbers 12:6; Deuteronomy 13:1, 3, 5; cf. Jeremiah 23:27-28, 32.
Young men would see visions. Visions were also a means whereby God communicates his message to men. 2 Samuel 7:17; cf. Ezekiel 13:7; Amos 1:1; Isaiah 1:1.
Even slaves would receive the Spirit.
The portents to come, vv 30-32
A portent describes an extraordinary event, and here “portent” describes God’s action.
Portents on earth.
- Blood—This recalls the turning of the Nile to blood (Ex 7:17).
- Fire—When the hail fell upon Egypt, flashes of fire appeared in the midst of the hail (Ex 9:24).
- Columns of smoke—This recalls the appearance of God on Mt. Sinai (Ex 19:18).
- These portents would show that God was real and active.
- However, these signs are not to be understood literally. Jesus said that before the destruction of Jerusalem, there would be “terrors and great signs from heaven” (Lk 21:11).
Portents in the sky.
- The sun would be turned to darkness. When God would come in some manner to execute justice or judgment, the sun would be turned to darkness (Is 13:10; Mk 13:24). This could very well refer to a solar eclipse.
- The moon would be turned to blood—The blood turns red during a lunar eclipse.
- These portents would be signs that the day of the Lord was coming.
Those who call on the Lord’s name will be delivered. “Calling on the Lord’s name” means to invoke him for salvation. Acts 2:21; 22:16; Romans 10:13. Those who are delivered shall be in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem—the birthplace of the church.
Questions for Reflection
- Read Joel through three times.
- Joel depicts a locust plague which is about to come upon the people. In order to avert this plague, the people needed to “rend [their] hearts” to show their sorrow over sin. How does one go about rending his heart?
- In what way(s) does the Lord repent of evil?
- When the people repent, God sends blessings upon them. How does God send blessings on us today when we repent? What are some of the blessings he sends?
- God said that he would pour out his Spirit on all flesh. Peter quoted this passage as fulfilled on Pentecost (Acts 2:15-21). How was God’s Spirit poured out on all flesh?
- Joel says that whoever calls on the Lord’s name will be saved. How does one call on his name?
This Bible class was originally taught by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at the Owingsville church of Christ in Owingsville, Kentucky.