Overview of Joel

The book is a collection of prophetic poems from the prophet Joel that seem to focus around the idea of the day of the Lord. Joel is introduced in the opening verse (Joel 1:1)

We don’t know when Joel is written. Some argue it was written before the exile, and others argue after. Those that argue after point to the fact that the book mentions Jerusalem and the temple but doesn’t mention a king. This lines up with the post exilic period that has a rebuilt Jerusalem and temple but no king. Joel is also familiar with many of the other prophets and writers, seemingly placing the book as after those.

Joel 1 - Divine judgement in the form of locusts

Joel 2:1-17 - Future day of the Lord and call to repentance

Joel 2:18-32 - God’s future response to that repentance

Joel 3:1-16 - God’s judgment on Judah’s enemies

Joel 3:17-21 - Future blessings for Judah

The people have experienced a lot of judgement in their past. That judgement is coming again on a future day of the Lord, but it will be over all chaos and wickedness. The people can continue in their wicked ways and get caught up in that judgement or they can cry out to the Lord and be saved.

In that case, the day of the Lord becomes a great day of victory for them as they watch all chaos and wickedness removed from the earth.

Joel 1-3

The book opens describing a judgement in Judah’s recent pass or one they are currently experiencing. A swarm of locusts. These locusts have eaten everything. These locusts are described as like an army that has swept through destroying everything. So Joel encourages the people to lament and grieve what has happened. They have nothing left. Nothing that they can offer to God. No grain, wine, or oil survived the swarms.

Because of this the people should grieve and fast, crying out to the Lord. In these contexts fasting always occurs alongside repentance.

Joel warns the people that while this judgement feel bad the ‘day of the Lord’ is coming. The grain has gone and even the livestock groan and cry out to God. The unspoken message here, even the animals can see how bad this is and call out to God. Why won’t you?

Joel now switches to looking forward. He warns Zion, Jerusalem, to sound an alarm and be ready for the day of the Lord is coming. Where previously they’ve experience an army-like swarm of locusts, they will experience a swarm-like army. A black wave that spreads across the land devouring and consuming it. They will come on horseback and with chariots.

This army will be well organised charging through the land, overtaking their walls and breaking into their houses. They will be som mighty there will be earthquakes and the sun will darken. This imagery is intentionally dramatic. We might call it apocalyptic in it sense of doom and destruction.

And who is at the head of this army? The Lord. The Lord comes to bring destruction and judgement on his people. But this can be avoided. If the people will fast and mourn. If they are repentant in their hearts, not just showing remorse without meaning it. If the people will return to the Lord, he is gracious and merciful. He will relent from punishing them. He may even bless them instead.

So Joel call the city to blow the trumpet and summon the people. They should prepare themselves and get their hearts right. The priests should intercede for the people.

If they do all this the Lord will take pity on his people once again. He will bless them with abundance and lift their heads amongst the other nations. They won’t have to fear northern armies coming to destroy them. The land, the harvest, and the animals won’t have to fear destruction.

Instead God will give them back all that they lost in the years of the locust and more. He will never let his people be shamed again. He will pour out his spirit on them and transform them into his people much in the same way that w read in Ezekiel 39:29.

There will still be a terrible day of the Lord with blood and fire and the sky darkening. But on that day of the Lord all those who call out to the Lord will be saved. Here Joel quotes Obadiah 17.

In contrast, the enemies of the Lord and his people will face judgement. God will gather all the nations that attacked his people to the valley of Jehoshaphat. This marries what was said in Zephaniah 3:8 about God gathering the nations to pour out his wrath on them. Jehoshaphat means ‘Yahweh judges’.

God speaks to all these nations accusing them of taking the wealth that belonged to God and selling his people into slavery. So God pronounces judgement on them. He calls them to prepare themselves. Take all their tools and turn them into weapons for God will gather them together for battle.

Except it won’t be a battle. God will destroy them as easily as one swings a sickle to harvest grain or treads on grapes to produce wine. On that dark day God will bring destruction and judgment but he will defend his people. He will roar from Zion which is a reference to Amos 1:2.

And so Joel switches to the future after this judgement. God will establish his future city. It will be a holy place of abundance. The places and the people of wickedness will be ravaged and destroyed, but those who have held to Lord will be blessed and encouraged.

Joel is a book that serves as a warning and an encouragement to the people. If it is written after the exile then it’s tapping into the judgement they’ve already experienced. It may be that the locust swarm actually happened or that it was a metaphor for all the hardship they’ve been through so far.

If they are not careful to turn from their wicked ways and turn to God then they will face an even worse judgement than anything they’ve experience before. But if they do turn to God he will bless them and protect them. And one day he will bring judgement on wickedness and chaos itself so that his people can live in his presence free from the influence or effects of evil.

Psalm 56

This psalm is attributed to king David when he was in Gath, fleeing Saul (1 Samuel 21:10–15). It falls into the category of lament psalm.

Psalm 56:1-2 - The complaints

Psalm 56:3-4 - A declaration of trust

Psalm 56:5-6 - The complaint

Psalm 56:7 - The request

Psalm 56:8-13 - A declaration of trust

The psalmist opens with a quick request that God be gracious to them, and then launches into the complaint. They feel trampled by their enemies. They feel constantly oppressed by attacks.

But then the psalmist pulls themselves and reminds themselves of the confidence they can have in God. They trust in God and he will guard them. What can humans, flesh and bone, do them when they’re trust is in God?

But then they slip back into the complaint. Their enemies are determined to beat them. They stir up strife and cause problems.

This leads the psalmist to make a simple request. Cast them down God. Stop them in their tracks.

Having shared his complaint and made his request the psalmist turns back to trust. God knows them. He sees and keeps track of everything they’re going through. There will come a time when God will intervene and the psalmist’s enemies will turn back.

Once again the psalmist points out, if they trust in God what can humans do to them? And so the psalmist looks forward to their response when God eventually restores them. They will perform their vows and offer thanks to God. All because God protected and sustained them.