Study notes ▪ 2017 Tags: Joel; Judah; Day of the Lord Excerpted from Twelve: Getting to Know the Minor Prophets Related Resources: Introduction to Joel (1993) ▪ Introduction to Micah ▪ Introduction to Zephaniah ▪ Introduction to Zechariah ▪ Introduction to Malachi Joel, the son of Pethuel (1:1); a prophet focused on the kingdom of Judah, mentioned only in the book that bears his name, and even there with virtually no biographical data DateUnknown
Kings MentionedJudah: None Israel: None Nation(s) TargetedPrimary: Judah (3:1; 3:18; 3:20; etc.), as evidenced by the book’s references to Zion (e.g., 2:1; 3:17), Jerusalem (e.g., 3:1; 3:20), temple service (e.g., 1:13; 2:17), and priests (e.g., 1:9) Secondary:
Representative Texts1:2-4; 1:10-15; 2:1-4; 2:10-18; 2:23-25; 2:28-30; 3:12-16; 3:19-21 Core MessageJudah faces a devastating invasion of locusts. The resulting destruction of crops has depressed the collective sentiment and has impaired the temple service, which depends on the availability of agricultural products. The intensity of the event is unprecedented—significant enough that Yahweh refers to the locusts as his army. The only hope of deliverance is the Lord’s mercy, and thus he voices through Joel a call for genuine repentance on a nationwide scale. The people are not merely to cry for relief from suffering, but to appeal that Judah’s welfare would magnify the Lord’s name. The present crisis portends a turn of end-time events known collectively as the day of the Lord. Joel foresees an outpouring of God’s Spirit, resulting in widespread proclamation of the word of the Lord. Severe judgment awaits, but Judah is no longer the target. Other nations—at least those surrounding Judah—are subject to divine retribution, but those who call on Yahweh will be saved. New Testament References[1]
FeaturesThe book of Joel is distinct from other prophets in that it gives balanced attention to the hope of restoration that follows the reality of divine judgment (Ryken, Wilhoit, and Longman 454-55). This tension is reflected in the book’s emphasis on the day of the Lord: “The future is both terrifying … and so exhilarating that one can hardly wait for it” (455). Unlike most of the minor prophets, Joel contains no clear indications of the time period when its author prophesied. The book’s failure to name any king of Judah or even mention the monarchy may indicate that it was written after the Babylonian exile (Dillard 240-41). SourcesBeale, G. K., and D. A. Carson, eds. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Baker Academic, 2007. Dillard, Raymond Bryan. “Joel.” The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey. Baker Academic, 2009, pp. 239-313. Geisler, Norman L. A Popular Survey of the Old Testament. Baker Book House, 1977. Huttar, David K. “Joel, Theology of.” Baker Theological Dictionary of the Bible, edited by Walter A. Elwell, Baker Books, 2000, pp. 419-21. Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel. Baker Books, 1996. Ryken, Leland, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. InterVarsity, 1998. Williamson, H. G. M. “Joel.” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley, fully revised, vol. 2, Eerdmans, 1982, pp. 1076-80. [1] New Testament citations of texts from Joel were identified in part by consulting Beale and Carson’s Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. |