How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Array

Author:Array
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Published: 2009-07-12T16:00:00+00:00

A WALK THROUGH JOEL

1:1 Heading

In contrast to Hosea, Joel’s heading is succinct, providing no knowledge of who he is or when he lived.

1:2–12 Scene 1A: The Locust Plague

Note how Joel’s words “Hear this” (v. 2) are the beginning of his wake-up call (v. 5) for lamentation and repentance to a nation paying no more attention to her ways than drunkards would (v. 5). It is often pointed out that the description of the plague in verses 6–12 is painfully precise. Watch how the promised blessings in 2:18–27 respond directly to this scene.

1:13–20 Scene 1B: A Summons to Repentance

Not only would such a plague wipe out a people economically for years, but the sacrificial system comes to a grinding halt when there is nothing left to sacrifice; hence the focus on the first call to repentance is on the priests (vv. 13–14). The rest of the summons repeats the cause for mourning (vv. 15–18), followed by Joel’s own prayer in the same vein(vv. 19–20).

2:1–11 Scene 2A: God’s Invading Army

Note how this second description of the plague pictures the locusts as something now in the future; it will come against God’s people as a vast army led by God himself (the holy war turns against Israel!). There is perhaps a bit of irony here, as Israel expects God to come in their behalf accompanied by winged cherubim (Ps 18:10; Ezek 10:1–20), but instead he comes with winged creatures of destruction.

2:12–17 Scene IB: The Summons to Repentance

The second summons to repentance is one of the more memorable moments in the Old Testament. Note especially the echoes of Deuteronomy 30:1–6—that fasting and sackcloth and ashes mean nothing if there is no rending of heart. Here also (Joel 2:13) you find the covenant basis for such repentance: God is gracious and compassionate.

2:18–27 Scene 3A: God’s Response—the Promise of Plenty

Note how much this scene corresponds to the plague as described in 1:2–12 and responds to the assumed repentance in 2:12–17. The “locust” army is pushed into the two seas (v. 20), and abundance is restored. But the ultimate goal is the praise of Yahweh and the removal of the people’s shame (vv. 26–27).

2:28–32 Scene 3B: God’s Response—the Promise of the Spirit

A part of the future restoration will be the fulfillment of Moses’ yearning that all of God’s people will be prophets (Num 11:29). Note how the list of those who will prophesy covers the whole gamut of the social order, including daughters and the lowest on the social ladder—female servants. Note also that this belongs to the eschatological future, accompanied by cosmic signs before the final expression of God’s “day,” when salvation is for all who call on Yahweh’s name.

3:1–16a Scene 4A: God’s Response—Final Judgment of the Nations

As scene 3A corresponds to 1 A, so this scene (4A) corresponds to 2A. Here you find a more typical “woe oracle” (see How to 1, p. 195) in which both the nature of God’s judgment and the reasons for it are spelled out. Note especially how this fulfills the pledge of the holy war that God will drive out all their enemies.

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