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The Twelve Minor Prophets

Joel 
​Repent & Rejoice P1


There have been great debates over this prophecy as to the time of writing, with no reigning kings of Israel or Judah mentioned in the introduction to help us in this matter.  The locusts have also generated a great debate! If they are literal in chapter one, are they the army of the Lord in chapter two, or are they symbolic of a military conflict? The “Day of the Lord” is also another interesting expression, which we will give attention to regarding its near and future fulfilment. It is my exercise on this book to give pointers, pose questions, and compare scripture with scripture. This will not only help with Joel but will also be a guide to general Bible study.

Some background details for the setting and study of Joel!
 
Key words with their references?
The Day of the Lord… 1:15, 2:1, 2:11, 2:31, 3:14.
The Lord your God… 1:14, 2:13, 2:14, 2:23, 2:26, 2:27, 3:17.
Jerusalem… 2:32, 3:1, 3:6, 3:16, 3:17, 3:20.
Judah… 3:1, 3:6, 3:8, 3:18, 3:19, 3:20.
Zion… 2:1, 2:15, 2:23, 2:32, 3:16, 3:17, 3:21.
House of the Lord… 1:9, 1:14, 3:18.
Sanctify… 1:14, 2:15, 2:16, 3:9 (prepare).
Solemn Assembly… 1:14, 2:15.
Meat Offering/Drink Offering… 1:9, 1:13, 2:14.
 
Day of the Lord? This expression occurs five times in Joel (see above). It occurs many times in the Old Testament, with expressions like, “In that day…” (Zeph 3:16). At other times, the days is described as, “A day of darkness …” (Joel 2:2). It occurs in the New Testament in Acts 2:20, 1 Thess 5:2, 2 Thess 2:2 (Christ changed to Lord, JND, NASB & RV), 2 Peter 3:10. See also Rev 6:15-17. The day of the Lord is to be distinguished from the Day of Christ (Phil 1:10), Day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6), Day of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor 5:5), Day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:8). It must also be distinguished from the Day of God (2 Peter 3:12). So, after the rapture of the Church and before the Day of God, the “Day of the Lord” prophetically includes…
  • A seven-year period of Tribulation:
The beginning of sorrows (Matt 24:8), the first half of the Tribulation.
Great Tribulation (Matt 24:21), the second half of the Tribulation.
  • The Battle or War of Armageddon (Rev 16:16).
  • The Coming of Christ in Glory (Matt 24:30, Zechariah 14:4).
  • The setting up of the Millennial Kingdom, Satan bound (Rev 20:1-6).
  • The Final Revolt as Satan is loosed for a little time, before being cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:7-10)
  • Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15).
Note: Many other events occur during the “Day of the Lord” and readers are encouraged to look for these in the Holy Scriptures: Judgment of the Living Nations, Signing of the Covenant, The Beast and the False Prophet, 144,000 sealed, Two Witnesses etc.
 
Time of writing? The book of Joel opens with his father named; Pethuel! There are no further personal details about himself, his family, or place of birth. Joel, like Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, and Habakkuk, omits any mention of the Kings of Israel and Judah! This has led to a great debate among commentators if the book of Joel should have an early date among the Minor Prophets, a pre-exilic date or a postexilic date! During the Kings of Judah, there was a time when the king was young, the priests were to the fore, and the services at the temple were functioning in a Godly manner. This was true in the days of Joash King of Judah and this might possibly fit Joel’s time of writing. Those who set out the various dates are listed below…
  • Reign of Joash… also spelt Jehoash (2 Kings 11:2, 21; 12:1-3).
J.B. Hewitt: Collected Writings Volume 1, Gospel Tract Publications.
Warren W. Wiersbe: The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, David Cook.
Irving L. Jensen: Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament, Moody Press.
David Gilliland: Ritchie Old Testament Commentaries What the Bible Teaches, John Ritchie Ltd.
  • Pre-exilic date…
Robert B. Chisholm: The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books.
 
JOEL: The Prophet of two days!
 
Outline:
 
Introduction (1:1).
Joel the son of Pethuel. No further family details are given and no references to the Kings of Israel or Judah!
 
The Divine Judgment that leads to a Doubtful Questioning (1:2-2:17)!

  • The Word of the Lord through the Prophet (1:2-14).
Hear… A word for the Elders (1:2-4).
Wake up… A word for the Drunkards (1:5-7).
Lament… A word for the People of the City (1:8-10).
Ashamed… A word for the Husbandmen/Vinedressers (1:11-12).
Fast… A word for the Priests (1:13-14).
  • Alas! A word from the heart of the Prophet as he anticipates the Desolation (1:15-20).
  • The Lord’s Army… another invasion in judgment (2:1-11).
  • The Call to Repentance (2:12-14).
  • The Gathering for Prayer (2:15-17).
 
The Doubtful Questioning, “Where is there God” (2:17).
 
The Divine Blessing that leads to a Conclusive Answer (2:18-3:21)!
 
God Removes the Northern Army (2:18-20).
God Gives the Rain (2:21-24).
God Restores the Loss (2:25-27).
God Pours out the Spirit (2:28-32).
God Recompenses the Nations (3:1-17).
God Blesses the Children of Judah (3:18-21).
 
The Conclusive Answer, “I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion” (3:17).

​Gary Woods 
Answers About God. Copyright © 2020, Aaron Colgan
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from
the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson,
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  • Home
  • Gospel Words
    • A Deadly Deed
    • Saving a President
    • The Death Zone
    • An Anchor of the Soul
    • Afraid Twice
    • Two Ways
    • Withering Grass & Fading Flowers
    • A Spider's Web
    • The Voice of the Son of God
    • Forgiven!
    • The Full Assurance of Hope
    • A Sinner's Prayer
    • A Present & Personal Saviour
    • The Great Supper
    • Judgment is Coming
    • A Closed Heart
    • "Iceberg Right Ahead!"
    • The Lamb of God
    • Truth & Certainty
    • 'Then the King Will Say'
    • The Testimony of the Chief of Sinners
    • The Testimony of the Lord's Prisoner
    • The Power of Christ
    • The Good Shepherd
    • 'Wonderful Words of Life'
    • Finding Wisdom
    • The Unchanging Person of Jesus Christ
  • Bible Answers
    • Remembering Our Creator
    • Was the Cross Necessary?
    • What is God Like?
    • Does the Resurrection Matter?
    • What's in a Name?
    • Why Must We be Saved?
    • "Who Art Thou, Lord?"
    • "The Unknown God" - Just Who is He?
    • "What is Truth?"
    • "Holy, Holy, Holy"
    • Knowing God
    • A Conversion Story
    • The Gospel according to Jonah
    • "Jesus of Nazareth, a Man Approved of God"
    • The Saviour of the World
    • A Chosen Vessel
    • Who is Jesus?
    • God's Mercy & Judgment
    • Does What I Think about the Son of God Matter?
    • 'How Shall we Escape if we Neglect so Great Salvation'?
    • What is Life Really All About?
    • The Rock of Ages
    • Easter Messages >
      • The Sufferings of Christ - Part 1
      • The Sufferings of Christ - Part 2
      • The Resurrection of Christ
      • Zion's King & God's Lamb
    • Christmas Messages >
      • Joseph, Mary & the Birth of Jesus
      • "A Savior who is Christ the Lord"
      • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
      • Covenant Promises & the Birth of Christ
  • Timeless Truths
    • Timeless Truths 1
    • Timeless Truths 2
    • Timeless Truths 3
    • Timeless Truths 4
    • Timeless Truths 5
    • Timeless Truths 6
    • Timeless Truths 7
  • Expository Messages
    • Topical Messages >
      • Spiritual Warfare
    • Psalms >
      • Psalms 84-88 >
        • Psalm 84 - The Courts of the LORD
        • Psalm 85 - 'Revive us Again'
        • Psalm 86 - Calling upon God in the Day of Trouble
        • Psalm 87 - The Glory of Zion, 'City of God'
        • Psalm 88 - Hands Stretched out in Grief
    • Minor Prophets - Study Notes by Gary Woods >
      • The Twelve Minor Prophets - An Overview
      • Hosea P1
      • Hosea P2
      • Joel P1
      • Joel P2
      • Amos P1
      • Amos P2
      • Obadiah
      • Jonah
      • Micah
      • Nahum
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      • Habakkuk P2
      • Zephaniah
      • The Post-Captivity Prophets - An Introduction
      • Haggai
      • Zechariah P1
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      • Malachi
    • The Lord's Upper Room Ministry >
      • John 13:1-3 - The Omniscient Christ
      • John 13:4-17 - The Foot Washing Ministry of the Perfect Servant
      • John 13:18-38 - The Son of Man Glorified
      • John 14:1-3 - The Father's House P1
      • John 14:4-7 - The Father's House P2
      • John 14:8-14 - The Father's Visibility
      • John 14:15-26 - The Father's Gift
      • John 14:27-31 - The Father's Primacy
      • John 17 - The Lord's Intercessory Prayer
      • Excursus: The Passover & the Last Supper
    • Romans >
      • Romans - An Introduction
      • Romans - An Outline
      • Romans 1:1-7 - Paul's Salutation
      • Romans 1:8-17 - Visiting Rome & Gospel Debt
      • Romans 1:18-32 - Wrath Revealed & Why
      • Romans 2 - An Introduction to a Difficult Chapter
      • Romans 2:1-5 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P1
      • Romans 2:6-11 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P2
      • Romans 2:12-16 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P3
      • Romans 2:17-29 - The Guilt of the Self-confident
      • Romans 3:1-20 - 'All the World Guilty'
      • Romans 3:21-24 - The Heart of the Gospel P1
      • Romans 3:25a - The Heart of the Gospel P2
      • Romans 3:25b-31 - The Heart of the Gospel P3
    • 1 Corinthians >
      • 1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21 - Worldly Wisdom
  • Booklets