Joel 0 (Introduction)
3/8/25 9:58 AM
Solitary Man
solitaryman.substack.com/
20250219
Introduction
The day of the Lord. If we wanted to pick one book in the bible where the day of the Lord is dealt with as its main theme, Joel is the one. The phrase is employed 19 times by 8 different Old Testament authors (Isa. 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezek. 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20 twice; Obad. 15; Zeph. 1:7, 14 twice; Zech. 14:1; Mal. 4:5). As you can see, Joel specifically employs this term 5 times.
The book is composed of 3 fairly short chapters. It is one of the oldest prophetical books in the bible. No date is given for it, but based on the language, and the lack of reference to certain later empires, it is generally agreed that it was written around the same time period as the books of Hosea and Amos. While those two prophesied to the northern kingdom, Joel preached to Judah in the south. The most reasonable estimate would place this writing during the reign of Joash (835-796 BC). Joash was 4 kings after Jehoshaphat, and 5 kings before Hezekiah. This would in fact make Joel the earliest of the prophets of Judah. The next biblical prophet for Judah would have been Isaiah, who prophesied from 739-686 BC. Let’s just pick a year, say 815 for the prophecy to have been given. Judah would have had to wait at least 75 years, until Isaiah began his ministry, for the next word of the Lord. While there may have been other actual prophets during that time, the odds are more against it than for it.
I bring up this timeline in order to make us appreciate just how precious the true word of the Lord really is. Today, thanks to the internet, you can read dozens of ‘prophecies’ most every day, if you look hard enough. Some would say of course, since Pentecost, this is the norm. I say no, what we have is a disinformation campaign unlike anything the people of God have ever seen in history. As we have seen in several eras in the past, the false prophets have always greatly outnumbered the true. Think of Elijah versus the 450, or Micaiah at the time of Ahab and Jehoshaphat, or Jeremiah during the last siege of Judah. A lone voice of truth verses hundreds of false. How much worse is it today, with the internet making it possible for any and every one to ‘prophesy’ at will!
When I read these words, I have no doubt that the number of false prophets are even greater today than in those days. Yet at least we have something to test and discern. These people often went entire lifetimes without a single fresh word from the Lord. As in Samuel’s day, the word of the Lord was precious and rare in this time period.
Joel comes from Jah and El, which means Jehovah is God or Jehovah is his god. Like Hosea, the only lineage he mentions is his father’s name. Tradition states that he came from the tribe of Reuben, but that is merely speculation. Note that this man was not interested in leaving a name for himself. He does not recite his lineage, or his tribal affiliation, as so many do. He was only interested in letting us know that the word of the Lord came to him (1:1). And it seems that the word came only once, at least as far as we have record of. What a refreshing character trait to have! Too many are so concerned with getting their name out there, especially in this internet crazed social media culture that we live in today. Always wanting to exhort everyone to ‘like’ and ‘subscribe’ and ‘follow’, they seem more concerned with the monetization of their videos than in ensuring that the content therein truly is glorifying and lifting up Yehovah and not themselves.
Joel uses a contemporary plague and all its terrible devastation as backdrop for the true theme of his book, the day of the Lord. The effects of the locust plague serve as a pale illustration of what to expect when that dreaded day occurs. Thus, the first chapter describes this plague in some detail. The second chapter morphs into the future final day of the Lord. While one may draw much valuable insights from the description of the calamity in the first chapter, the second chapter truly moves into a description of what awaits in the final great and terrible day of judgment to come. The only solution for God’s people is clearly presented to us. And that is a repentance so total and complete, that it leaves no room for any half hearted measures whatsoever. If this does occur, then a future restoration is possible. A restoration that encompasses the land, the people, and the nation of Israel itself. This restoration would be possible in Joel’s time, but its deeper fulfillment will only come to pass at the end of days.
We shall discover that one of the 2 most famous passages in the book has been taught about as wrongly as one could imagine. We will also take a very close look at the most famous passage, the outpouring of the spirit (2:28-32), and see how Peter used and perhaps stretched the meaning just a little bit, as far as the timing went. However this seems to be something that even Jesus himself felt no compunction in doing, reflecting the fact that the word of the Lord often allows multiple fulfillments in varying degrees of the same passage. Such is the mysterious nature of scripture itself!
So we have 17 prophetical books in the bible, from Isaiah to Malachi. And this one is the earliest one written. And what does God wish to first and foremost convey to his people? Just how much be loves them? Perhaps an exhortation to evangelism? How about temple attendance, or reminding them to be faithful in bringing in the sacrifices, firstfruits, tithes, and offerings? Maybe a promise about how God is going to defeat all their enemies? Or how about an exhortation to greater faith?
No, none of those things. God speaks mishpat, or judgment. He continues to speak mishpat throughout all the prophetical works, right through to the end of Malachi. And why is that? Because nothing is more important than warning us of impending judgment. Judgment that is certain and sure, unless we repent.
So why is it that judgment is the last thing we speak about in our churches, if at all? Why don’t we follow the pattern that is laid out for us in his word? Think about the fact that God was looking to describe the fearsomeness, the awesomeness, the dreadfulness of the final day of the Lord, way back around 800 BC! That’s over 2800 years ago! Surely he didn’t need to warn us so early in the timeline. But yet he wants each and every generation to prioritize the judgments of God in their thinking.
I believe the book of Joel teaches us to keep the judgments of the Lord first and foremost in our consciousness. This is the one sure foundation that will lead us to a life that is not filled with casual sin. We need to take the time and let this earliest of the prophetic works work its way deep into our souls, so that we too are found ready and prepared, should this terrible day actually fall in our lifetimes.
As an appendix to this short introduction and to get us in the mood, here are all the scriptures that specifically reference this most unique of days.
Isa. 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezek. 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20 twice; Obad. 15; Zeph. 1:7, 14 twice; Zech. 14:1; Mal. 4:5.
Note that I may add some surrounding verses to complete the thought but not all, as that would take up too much room. You are encouraged to examine the passages yourself, in order to imbibe the entire context.
Isa 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
Isa 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
Isa 13:7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:
Isa 13:8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Eze 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Eze 30:2 Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!
Eze 30:3 For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.
Joe 1:15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
Joe 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
Joe 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Joe 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Amo 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
Amo 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
Amo 5:20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
Oba 1:15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
Zep 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
Zep 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
Zep 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Solitary Man
