We know nothing certain about the author of this book, or when he wrote his prophecy. There is no information given at the beginning of the prophecy to tell us under which king the prophecy was given. We can glean a few facts by a careful study of the book:
- The name Joel means, “The Lord is God.” He appears to have lived
- The reason he wrote the book is indicated in the first section. A
- Although we do not know for sure, there is evidence from reading the
Joel 1:4-20, 2:18-27, indicate the importance of agriculture, which was true during the reign of Uzziah. For this reason, God’s judgment hit at the most important thing in their lives. Joel 1:5, points to a sensual and immoral society, careless of their relationship with God. compare with other prophets who wrote a little later to the same people; Hosea 4:11, 7:5,14; Amos 2:8, 6:1-7. Joel 2:12,13, shows the religion of the day was an empty shell. Compare Amos 5:21-24. It is also significant that Amos actually refers to a locust attack sent by God as a judgment. It could well be the one of which Joel is speaking. Amos 4:9, 7:1-3.
OUTLINE OF JOEL
I. LOOKING BACK AT THE DAY OF THE LORD, 1:1-20
THE LOCUST PLAGUE, 1:1-4
The description is of a swarm of locusts — a million or more blown by the desert wind from Arabia. They cover the land and eat everything until the land is bare.
WARNINGS IN THE LIGHT OF THE PLAGUE, 1:5-20
A Call to Repent, 1:5-13 Joel sees the plague as more than a coincidence of insect and desert wind. He sees the hand of God in judgment on an unfaithful people. Hence, the call to repent. To the careless, 1:5-10 To the farmers, 1:11,12 To the priests, 1:13 A Call to Prayer, 1:14-20 Joel calls upon the leaders to call all the people to the temple for a fast in repentance. Call for an assembly, 1:14-18 In the light of the drought following locusts, 1:19,20 In this section, Joel points out to us that the sovereign God can use the natural creation to get the attention of man. Compare the plagues of Egypt.
II. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE IMMINENT DAY OF THE LORD, 2:1-27
The locusts have been a warning, but something far worse is coming — the invasion of a foreign power bringing God’s judgment. A PLEA FOR PREPARATION, 2:1-11 The call in the light of the coming army. 2:1,2 Description of the army, 2:2-11 This coming army could be seen as the advancing Assyrian army which came in the days of Hezekiah (II Kings 18), and certainly the Babylonian army that destroyed Jerusalem and took the people into captivity. (II Chronicles 36:15) WHAT THEY MUST NOW DO. 2:12-27 Turn to God in mercy, 2:12-14 Some of the greatest words in Scripture concerning the willingness of God to receive the one who turns to Him with his whole heart. Call an assembly, 2:15-27
- A call to humility before God.
III. A YET FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD, 2:28 – 3:21
The following which will help you understand the passage: 2:28 The time of this prophecy’s fulfillment has been given to us by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:14-21. This is a prophecy concerning the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This, of course, did take place “after those days” of the Babylonian captivity. 2:32 The way of salvation for Jew and Gentile is given as calling upon the name of the Lord. This was literally fulfilled when Peter stood in Jerusalem and called the people to call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, as we have shown elsewhere, Mt. Zion is seen in the New Testament as being the place where God and man rejoice together in the Spirit. That place is through Jesus, the Way to the Father. 3:1 Israel, Judah are to be understood ad those who have called on the Name of the Lord, i.e. those who are born again. The Church of believers is the fulfillment of this prophecy and is the true Israel. We are not living in the “fortunes” — the blessings that are in Christ. What follows is a description of God’s Day of Judgment. Jesus takes these truths and shows how they are to be understood in the light of His person and work. Matthew 25:31ff. The last verses are an Old Testament way of describing the eternal joy of the kingdom of God. With this in mind, we can finish the outline.
THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT. 2:28-32
THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS. 3:1-16
THE ETERNAL BLESSING OF THE RIGHTEOUS. 3:17-21
Read this whole book in different translations and the Spirit will give you understanding.