Joel 1

Joel 1

Spurgeon writes "The name of Jehovah reminds us that He has within Himself sufficiency for all His will; He hath adequate power of performance for all His purposes and decrees; Jehovah wills, and it is done. He has created legions of angels, but He borrows nothing from them. He can truly say, “I am, and there is none beside Me.” Those mysterious living creatures which are nearest to His throne are His creatures, and not His helpers. The best instructed and the most willing of His servants, derive their all from Him, but supply Him with nothing. (Read Spurgeon's full sermon - Jeremiah 32:26,27 Is Anything too Hard for the LORD? - Pdf) See in depth article "On the Divine Name (Jahveh, Jehovah)" in volume 1 of the 8 volume work entitled "The History of Israel" by Heinrich Ewald (1843-1859) J. A. Motyer emphasizes the association of God's Name with His character rendering Exodus 6:3 "And I showed myself to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob in the character of El Shaddai, but in the character expressed by my name Yahweh I did not make myself known to them. (Bolding added) Motyer concludes that "it was the character expressed by the name that was withheld from the patriarchs and not the name itself. To know by name means to have come into intimate and personal acquaintance with a person." In "The Book of Consolation"" in Jeremiah (in context of sacking of the city, destruction of the Temple and Judah's final exile to Babylon in 586 BC) God promised a future day of joy for the forlorn city of Jerusalem “Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers. (Jeremiah 31:4-note) In Joel 2:12-17 the Joel exhorts the nation in a call to repentance emphasizing that restoration of Israel is possible. In fact the theme is "Repent, for the Day of the LORD is near." Then in Joel 2:18-27 the prophet issues one of the greatest prophetic promises of hope in the entire Old Testament. Finally in Joel 2:28-3:21 the prophet predicts the coming of the Holy Spirit, the judgment of God, the Kingdom of God and the consummation of the Day of the LORD. Pethuel - Only mention in Scripture. Some suggest that because there is no additional description this suggest the prophet was well known and therefore needed no additional introduction. Derived from the verb pathah meaning to be spacious, wide or open. So the name Pethuel is variously interpreted to mean "Enlargement of heart," "Openheartedness of/toward God," or “Persuaded of God." (See devotional on the name Pethuel). Henrietta Mears - Traditionally, Joel is called the prophet of Pentecost, since his prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit (see Joel 2:28–32) is quoted by Peter in Acts 2:16–21 to explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost....Joel has been called the prophet of religious revival. He knew that revival must follow repentance. As Robert Lee, the author of The Bible at a Glance, wrote, “A rent heart is followed by a rent veil and heaven.” Joel tried to bring his people to that place. We will find access to the throne of grace and know the presence of the Holy Spirit when we truly repent. (What the Bible is All About) Summary of Joel - God's word came to Joel to deliver to Jerusalem in the midst of a devastating locust plague that had destroyed the crops, made temple sacrifices impossible, and caused the priests to put on mourning clothes. The locusts represented a nation about to invade Judah, so Joel called Jerusalem to fast and pray to God for help. (Holman Old Testament Commentary – Hosea-Micah) Big idea: the devastation of the coming day of the lord (prefigured in the locust plague and severe drought) should prompt heartfelt repentance that will lead to god’s gracious promises of restoration and blessing “Yet even now, declares the Lord, Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.” (Joel 2:12-13) (Paul Apple) What are the KEY WORDS in Joel? While some of the key words below are not frequent, nevertheless they are key because of their importance to the overall message of Joel. Locust - Joel 1:4, Joel 2:25 Day of the LORD (5x) - Joel 1:15 Joel 2:1 Joel 2:11 Joel 2:31 Joel 3:14 Five more allusions to the Day of the LORD - "Day" = Joel 2:2 (twice), Days = Joel 2:29, In those days = Joel 3:1, In that day = Joel 3:18 Rejoicing - Joel 1:12 (Gladness and joy = Joel 1:16) Joel 2:21 Joel 2:23 Restore - Joel 3:1 There is another key phrase which is easily overlooked but clearly is the KEY to the entire prophecy. It is the little phrase "I WILL" which underscores the sovereignty and sufficiency of our great Savior to consummate the promises He makes to Israel in the prophecy of Joel. Here are the 13 uses of "I WILL" in 11 verses Joel 2:19 Joel 2:20 Joel 2:25 Joel 2:28 Joel 2:29 Joel 2:30 Joel 3:2 Joel 3:4 Joel 3:8 Joel 3:12 Joel 3:21 Duane A. Garrett - The Day of the LORD refers to a decisive action of Yahweh to bring his plans for Israel to completion... The Day of the LORD is more of a theological idea than a specific event. As a theological idea it can manifest itself in human history many times and in many forms. Sidlow Baxter on the Day of the LORD - Three facets of the Day of the Lord, are discernable: (1) THE HISTORICAL, that is, God’s intervention in the affairs of Israel (Zeph. 1:14-18; Joel 1:15) and heathen nations (Isa. 13:6; Jer. 46:10; Ezek. 30:3); (2) THE ILLUSTRATIVE, whereby an historical incident represents a partial fulfillment of the eschatological Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-11; Isa. 13:6-13); (3) THE ESCHATOLOGICAL. (Eschatology from eschatos = last) This eschatological “day” includes the time of the Great Tribulation (Isa. 2:12-19; 4:1), the second coming of Christ (Joel 2:30-32), and the Millennium (Isa. 4:2; 12; 19:23-25; Jer. 30:7-9). (Explore the Book) John MacArthur on the Day of the LORD - The phrase does not have reference to a chronological time period, but to a general period of wrath and judgment uniquely belonging to the Lord. It is exclusively the day which unveils His character – mighty, powerful, and holy, thus terrifying His enemies. The Day of the Lord does not always refer to an eschatological event; on occasion it has a near historical fulfillment, as seen in Ezekiel 13:5, where it speaks of the Babylonian conquest and destruction of Jerusalem. As is common in prophecy, the near fulfillment is a historic event upon which to comprehend the more distant, eschatological fulfillment. (MacArthur Study Bible) Kenneth O. Gangel - Memories fifty years old are as vivid as yesterday. We would wake up one morning in west Texas to a darkened sky. The crickets had paid another visit. Walk out your door, and every step went crunch, crunch, crunch as you made your way to the morning paper or the morning milk bottles by stepping on the swarming crickets that filled the sidewalks and driveways. How can you drive when front and back windows are crawling with crickets? Shopkeepers had an even worse nightmare. The sidewalks in front of their stores as well as their plate glass windows were covered with crickets. But the worst cricket problem belonged to the farmers and gardeners. Whatever crops the perpetual west Texas drought had left, the chirping invaders gobbled up. What a helpless feeling! All we knew to do was wait it out and sweep up the dead bodies when the swarm moved on eastward. Joel's people faced the same problem. Locusts, locusts everywhere and not a crop to spare. Temple offerings stopped. People either drank themselves into oblivion or prayed. In such a disastrous time, God gave Joel a message—mourn, pray for help, but know this is only a sign of worse things to come. (Holman Old Testament Commentary – Hosea-Micah) Brian Bell - When I was 5 years old standing in my backyard in Whittier it happened… 1.4.1. A large grasshopper landed on my left shoulder! He was the size of a small Mack truck. He had armor plating all over his body. He was huge, mean, & he was going to eat me alive. I hate them still to this day. I’ve grabbed a rattle snake by his tail once(explain) but I don’t do grasshoppers! 1.4.2. An old Arabian proverb claims(picture this), “In the locust, slight as it is, is the nature of 10 of the larger animals – the face of a horse, the eyes of an elephant, ” the neck of a bull, the horns of a deer, the chest of a lion, the belly of a scorpion, the wings of an eagle, the thighs of a camel, the feet of an ostrich, the tail of a serpent.” Joel is writing in-between invasions: Between a locust plague recently past & future judgments of a military invasion, & ultimately “The Day of the Lord.” Joel is writing to Judah & writes to the old men/elders (Joel 1:1-4); to the drunkards (Joel 1:5-7); to the worshippers (Joel 1:8-10); to the farmers (Joel 1:11,12); & to the priests (Joel 1:13,14.) (Joel 1 - “Locust Plague…a mini-version of The Day of the Lord!”) Baxter concludes that Joel's prophecy is clearly to the Southern Kingdom of Judah noting that "he exercised his prophetic ministry in or near Jerusalem. It is the inhabitants of that city whom he addresses (Joel 2:23). It is Jerusalem which he sees in danger (Joel 2:9). It is in Zion that the "alarm" is to be sounded (2:1,15). It is in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem that deliverance shall be in the after-days (Joel 2:32). It is the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem which is then to be ended (Joel 3:1); and it is Judah and Jerusalem which shall "dwell forever" (Joel 3:20). The ten-tribed northern kingdom is not once mentioned." (Explore the Book) PETHUEL - Thomas Walker, of Tinnevelly, one of the Lord's greatest missionaries to India and with whom Amy Carmichael had eighteen years of close co-operation, was a profound Bible student and, when speaking on the prophecy of Joel, was in the habit of directing attention to Joel's father, whose name "Pethuel" means "enlargement of heart" or "openheartedness." Walker of Tinnevelly, the name by which he was best know, was fond of telling a most interesting story, one that befits our subject, from the life of a fellow minister in London. A few days after the first child was born in his friend's home, the mother passed away. The grief of the tragic event was intensified a little later when the father was informed that his little daughter was totally blind. For the next sixteen years no expense was spared in seeking to rectify the condition, but without the slightest relief. At this stage a famous eye specialist from Vienna started a practice on Harley Street, London. The blind daughter was now sixteen-and-a-half years of age, and the father was urged by his friends to take her to the specialist to find out if anything could be done. At first he was very reluctant to venture, lest it might prove to be only another expensive disappointment. However, the insistence of his friends prevailed, and after an examination of the girl's eyes, the specialist informed him that although a thick film covered the surface of each eyeball, he believed that underneath there was a normal pupil, and behind the eye an unimpaired retina. "Provided the film is successfully removed without injury to the eyes," he said, "it will be necessary for the patient to remain in subdued light for five or six weeks. Are you willing to entrust your daughter to my care for that time?" Agreement was reached in the matter and, after the surgery, the father was informed from time to time of the progress being made. After five long weeks the father was notified that he would be permitted to see his daughter at the hospital at a specified hour. On arrival he was conducted to a dimly-lighted room, and shortly afterward the surgeon entered with his daughter. When the surgeon removed the shade from her eyes, she stepped quickly toward her father and throwing her arms round his neck, kissed him repeatedly. He noticed the tears running from her eyes, and intently inquired, "Are you in pain, darling?" "No daddy," she said. "Then why are you sobbing?" Back came the reply, "To think I have had such a loving father for sixteen years and have never before seen his face." Have we realized that the heart of God our Father is enlarged toward us (LIKE THE NAME PETHUEL)? Do we really know Him as the openhearted Father of mercies, or do we go on blindly year by year without realizing that He is generously kind? The Apostle Paul could say to the Christians at Corinth, "Our heart is enlarged... and now for a recompense in the same, I speak as to my children, be ye also enlarged" (II Corinthians 6:11, 13). The Father of Lights, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift, giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not (James 1:5, 17). (Charles Roll - The Names of God) Joel 1:2 Hear this, O elders, And listen, all inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this happened in your days Or in your fathers' days? Hear this: Ps 49:1 Isa 34:1 Jer 5:21 Ho 5:1 Am 3:1 4:1 5:1 Mic 1:2 Mic 3:1,9 Mt 13:9 Rev 2:7 O elders: Job 8:8 12:12 15:10 21:7 Has anything like this happened in your days: Joel 2:2 De 4:32-35 Isa 7:17 Jer 30:7 Da 12:1 Mt 24:21 UNDIVIDED ATTENTION CALLED FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED PLAGUE Hear (command) this - He begins with a command to hear this (the word of the LORD). This is a clarion call for his readers/listeners to give this message their undivided attention! Ogilvie - Joel begins his communication of the Lord’s Word with an impassioned call to attention. The call to hear and give ear marks the message to follow as especially crucial, worthy of undivided attention. (The Preacher's Commentary Series) O elders - This is the first of several groups addressed by Joel The elders could refer to the literally aged (who would have been more likely to have seen other but lesser plagues) or to community leaders who would be in a position to speak to the singularity of this plague. Hearing is a good thing! It is always wise to clean the wax out of our ears (cf the exhortation in James 1:21-note where filthiness = "rhuparia" = "ear wax!") when it is a "Word from Jehovah!" And then just as important to heed what we hear by cleaning out the sin in our heart through confession, repentance and dependence on the Spirit! Has anything like this happened in your days Or in your fathers' days? - Joel is drawing his readers into his message (using interrogative statements is always a good way to arrest your audience's attention and draw them to mentally engage in the discourse!) Further, Joel's rhetorical questions emphasize to the audience, the utter uniqueness of this present plague. This rhetorical question is to be answered with a firm “No!” Joel is calling the old men to confirm the fact that there had never been one like this plague in Judah's history. This calamity is unprecedented. Of note is the fact that here Yahweh sent on His own chosen people the very plague He sent on Pharaoh! Jehovah does not play favorites. Sometimes I think to myself, "Well I can get away with this sin because I'm His son." How foolish and deceptive is such manner of thought. In fact, I have an even greater degree of culpability than the pagan who does not know Him! Woe! (cf Ro 2:1-4-note) Joel's query recalls some of the descriptions of the extraordinary events during the Exodus (Ex. 10:6, 14; Dt. 4:32–35). What the Bible teaches on these rhetorical questions - By this means he aims to provoke their thinking, stir their memories and search their conscience. This plague was not the norm. The likes had never happened before in previous generations. Here was something new, and by these new measures God was seeking to attract their attention to Himself. They were not to take this as merely an ordinary, natural disaster. Locust invasions were common enough in the ancient east but here was something unprecedented and unparalleled in the national memory for generations past, so they should sit up and listen. The "old men" could draw upon the memory of many years and testify to the uniqueness of recent happenings. (What the Bible Teaches – Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah) In Joel 2:2 the prophet says "There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations." While Joel is speaking of a literal locust plague in Judah the likes of which have never been seen before, the prophet's description is but a faint foretaste or foreshadowing of things to come for the nation of Israel for a similar declaration is made regarding the coming time of Israel's great distress, Time of Jacob's Distress (Jeremiah 30:7-note): Daniel 12:1-commentary “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Matthew 24:21-commentary “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Comment: How sad it is for non-literal writers to try to twist and distort and contort the plain (literal) sense of Jesus' warning (Mt 24:16-19-commentary) into a description of the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD! Such attempts are utter foolishness and sadly miss the grave import of His solemn, urgent warning for the nation of Israel in that day, the Day of the LORD! (cf Zechariah 12:3-4-note) Fortunately it is a warning which is repeated as noted above, so that when the Day of the LORD does truly arrive (WHICH IT WILL!), hopefully most of the Jews will read the pure milk of God's Word and not the specious speculations of the theologians! As Proverbs 30:5 says "Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." So we pray in that future Day of Destruction, the Jews will read the infallible Word from God and not be led astray by the words of fallible men! Charles Feinberg - There is difference of opinion among students of the book as to whether the first part of the book is to be taken as a literal locust plague or to be understood allegorically (i.e., figuratively of some future judgment). We must decide for the literal view. An actual locust plague had devastated the land. There are no hints in the text itself that the prophet is using an allegory. The picture given in the prophecy of the locusts is true to their manner of action and to the results of their blighting invasions: the disappearance of the vegetation in the fields; the eating of the bark of woody plants together with the roots under the ground; their swarms darkening the sun; their compact march in military manner; the wind-like noise of their movements; and the munching sounds accompanying their eating. (The Minor Prophets) Joel 1:3 Tell your sons about it, And let your sons tell their sons, And their sons the next generation. Ex 10:1,2 13:14 De 6:7 Jos 4:6,7,21,22 Ps 44:1 71:18 78:3-8 Ps 145:4 Isa 38:19 PASS IT ON! Tell (command) your sons about it - Do you pass “lessons” you’ve learned on to your kids...successes and failures! Recount it to four generations, but of course the idea is to never cease passing it on. It is not so much to elaborate on the gory details of the gnawing locusts but on the greatness and power of our God Who is in control of the hordes of locusts and to do so as a punishment for hardness of heart (as with Pharaoh - Ex 10:1). In Dt 28:38 Moses had warned “You shall bring out much seed to the field but you will gather in little, for the locust will consume it." Israel was living like the world and now suffered like the world. What the Bible teaches adds that "This insect invasion was something which the Lord not only allowed, He actually sent it to bring the people to their spiritual senses and the prophet Joel's ministry was to make clear to the people their responsibility. Their true reaction in this situation was one of repentance. These locusts were the rod of the Lord to lead them to repentance." (What the Bible Teaches – Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah) Beloved, willful sin that is not quickly confessed and repented of will surely bring down the disciplining hand of the LORD (as I well know from personal experiences) in the form of "variegated locusts" (much like the 4 descriptions in Joel 1:4) so that His discipline may come in the form of a lawsuit (mine was and it was sorely painful), a loss of finances, illness, etc. (Disclaimer - not all these life events are necessarily divine discipline, so one must as always keep the life context in mind for the most accurate interpretation). Read Heb 12:5-11-note and notice that it ends with a declaration of the disciplined one's good and God's glory for "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Heb 12:11-note) APPLICATION: Parents (especially you fathers out there), the pattern in this passage is the Biblical pattern for parenting one's children as attested to repeatedly in the Old Testament... Exodus 13:8; 14 “You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 14 “And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons (I NEED TO TELL MY GRANDCHILDREN - RECENTLY I HAD TWO OVERNIGHT AND THEY ASKED ME "TELL US HOW YOU BECAME A BELIEVER" WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO PASS ON THE GREATEST MIRACLE THE LORD HAS PERFORMED IN MY LIFE! THANK YOU JESUS! AMEN). Deuteronomy 6:4-7 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7“You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:20-21 “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What do the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the LORD our God commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand. Ps 78:4-6 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, And dear older believer who has walked with the Lord for a number of years, even several decades. Are you passing it on? Beloved, you will be held accountable for passing or not passing on what you have been privileged to learn. To what do I refer? This is a reference to Jesus' command to MAKE DISCIPLES (Mt 28:19-20-note). Paul presented the model in his letter to young Timothy writing The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Ti 2:2-note) Comment: Are you looking for some faithful younger men to spend some time with making the Word of the Lord and the Lord the central component of your time. Yes, accountability is important, but it should NEVER replace serious time together in the Word of truth, for it is from the Living and Active Word that we receive the power from the Spirit to be faithful in our accountability (cp John 6:63 = " the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."). Related Resource on "Passing it on" from generation to generation: Make Disciples 1 Make Disciples 2 - Begins study of Five Most Important Passages for Believers Make Disciples 3 - Chart comparing Filled with the Spirit and the Word Make Disciples 4 Make Disciples 5 Make Disciples 6 Make Disciples 7 Make Disciples 8 Tell what? There is a touch of suspense in these first 3 verses. We don't find the answer until the next passage Joel 1:4. What the Bible teaches - Sometimes history is dismissed as irrelevant to a modern, progressive generation. What can such a generation, with all the technology and sophistication, learn from the experiences of the past? One is reminded of the words of the famous philosopher here: "Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it". (What the Bible Teaches – Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah) NET Note - The circumstances that precipitated the book of Joel surrounded a locust invasion in Palestine that was of unprecedented proportions. The locusts had devastated the country's agrarian economy, with the unwelcome consequences extending to every important aspect of commercial, religious, and national life. To further complicate matters, a severe drought had exhausted water supplies, causing life-threatening shortages for animal and human life (cf. v. 20). Locust invasions occasionally present significant problems in Palestine in modern times. The year 1865 was commonly known among Arabic-speaking peoples of the Near East as sent el jarad, "year of the locust." The years 1892, 1899, and 1904 witnessed significant locust invasions in Palestine. But in modern times there has been nothing equal in magnitude to the great locust invasion that began in Palestine in February of 1915. This modern parallel provides valuable insight into the locust plague the prophet Joel points to as a foreshadowing of the day of the Lord. For an eyewitness account of the 1915 locust invasion of Palestine see J. D. Whiting, "Jerusalem's Locust Plague," National Geographic 28 (December 1915): 511-50. (Net Notes Joel 1) Related Article - The Locust Plague of 1915 Photograph Album Joel 1:4 What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; And what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten; And what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten. Locust Joe 2:25 Am 4:9 See on Ex 10:4 the swarming locust has eaten: Ex 10:12-15 De 28:38,42 1Ki 8:37 2Chr 6:28 7:13 Ps 78:46 105:34 Am 7:1 Rev 9:3-7 the creeping locust has eaten: Na 3:15-17 the stripping locust has eaten: Isa 33:4 Jer 51:14,27 Acridium peregrinum A DIVINE NATURALLY OCCURRING "SCORCHED EARTH POLICY" Gnawing locust - Like the lion, locusts have a strong bite and great power, grinding their food, completely destroying whatever they eat. The repetition and plethora of terms for locusts at least in part serves to emphasize the profundity of the plague. This was not just a handful of locusts but a "horde full!" And their invasion was no accident but reflective of divine discipline (even as in Ex 10:12-20) and indeed this is part of why this lore need to be passed on. It would serve as a warning for sin! John